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TQWN HOUiiJ:: , NASHTT A 



-m 



HISTORY 



T 



OF THI-: 



OLD TOWNSHIP OF DUNSTABLE i 



INCLUDING 



NASHUA, :\ASHV]LLE, HOLLIS, HUDSON, 



LITCIIIIELD, AND MERRIMAC, N. H. ; 



DUNSTABLE AND TYNGSBOROUGH, 



MASS. 



BY CHARLES J. FOX 



W: 




NASHUA: 
CHARLES T. GILL, PUBLISHER. 

1846. 



Entered accordingrto Act of Congress, in the yearEighteenllumired and Forty-six, 

BY CHARLES J. FOX, 

In the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the United Sta<es in and for 
the District of New Hampsliire. 



NASHUi: 

MuRH.vY ii Kimball, 

PRINTERS. 



H 



"^m 



^. 



NOTICE. 

A FEW pages only of this volume were in 
type, when its author was called away by death, 
from the community who esteemed and the 
friends who loved him. As arrangements had 
been made for the publication of the work, s, 
large subscription obtained, and the promise of 
its appearance given to the public, it was thought 
best that no delay should take place. The his- 
tory, as prepared by Mr. Fox, extended to the 
year 1840, during which the greater part of it 
was written. He had however, when undertak- 
ing its publication, procured information from va- 
rious sources, as to transactions since that peri- 
od, especially with regard to the present state of 
business in the village of Nashua. To condense 
this information, and incorporate it with what 
had been previously written, — to collect such 
additional facts as seemed desirable to be pre- 
served in a volume of this kind, and to superin- 
tend the mechanical execution of the work, has 
been th€ task of the author's friends, — a task of 
some delicacy and difficulty, but rendered inter- 
esting not only by the nature of the work itself, 

A 



iv. NOTICE. 

but by its connection with one, who left so many 
claims to the affectionate remembrance of those 
who knew him. If under such circumstances, 
mistakes should be found to have passed uncor- 
rected, which the eye of the author Avould have 
discovered, — or if the information given should 
seem dej&cient on any point where the further re- 
searches of the writer would have supplied it, 
the indulgence of the reader is requested. 

Of the Author himself, a brief notice in this 
place will doubtless be expected by those who 
are acquainted with the circumstances under 
which the work is published. It is hoped that 
before long, a more full account of his character, 
labors and influence will be presented to the 
world by one who knew him intimately, and who 
is in every respect eminently suited to the task. 

Charles James Fox was born at Antrim, N. 
H., in the month of October, 1811. He received 
his preparatory education at Dartmouth College, 
where he was graduated in 1831. He pursued 
the study of law, at first in the law school of 
Yale College, and afterwards with Daniel Abbot, 
Esq., of Nashua (now Nashville,) N. H: With 
this gentleman he subsequently entered into part- 
nership. Having been chosen in 1837 a mem- 
ber of the State Legislature, he was appointed in 
connection with Judge Parker and Mr. Bell, to 
prepare for pubhcation the Revised Statutes of 
t^ 



w- 



NOTICE. V. 



New Hampshire. The great labor which he en- 
countered in the fnlfihnent of this duty, added to 
that of an extensive legal practice, it is believed 
laid the foundation of that disease which at so 
early a period, deprived the community of his 
valuable life. 

In 1841, Mr. Fox, in connection with Rev. 
Samuel Osgood, then pastor of the Unitarian 
Church in Nashua, prepared and published the 
"New Hampshire Book," a collection of pieces 
in prose and verse, from the writings of natives 
and adopted citizens of this state. 

While a member of the Legislature, Mr. Fox 
took a deep interest in the establishment of the 
State Lunatic Asylum, of which he was ap- 
pointed one of the Directors. 

On the third of June, 1840, Mr. Fox was 
united in marriage to Miss Catherine P. Abbot, 
the daughter of his partner. 

In the year 1843, Mr. Fox, in consequence of 
his declining health, took a voyage to the Medi- 
terranean, visiting the interesting countries which 
surround that sea, and extending his travels as 
far as Egypt. 

This voyage not having accomplished the res- 
toration of his health, in the following autumn 
he sailed for the West Indies, accompanied by 
Mrs. Fox. Notwithstanding his feeble state of 
body, he looked on the scenes around him with 



VI. NOTICE. 

an observant eye, and treasured up many inter- 
esting and instructive reminiscences, which were 
in part given to the world after his return, in a 
series of letters, published in the Nashua Gazette. 

During this visit to the West Indies, the sub- 
ject of slavery especially engaged his attention. 
He viewed it with the feelings of a philanthro- 
pist, united with the calm judgment of a lawyer; 
and had his health permitted him to complete his 
first design in the letters above referred to, his 
testimony on this subject would have possessed 
a peculiar vahie. Enough however is contained 
in the letters which he was able to write and 
publish, to show his deep and enhghtened inter- 
est in whatever concerned the rights and the 
welfare of his fellow beings. 

From this journey he returned in a state of 
great feebleness, in June, 1845. During the suc- 
ceeding fall and winter, he gradually sunk, 
though with intervals of apparent improvement, 
until his death, which took place February 17th. 
1846. Industrious to the last, the hours when 
such exertion was possible, were devoted to the 
revision of the History which is now presented 
to the public, and to poetical compositions, chief- 
ly on religious subjects. 

The character of Mr. Fox had always, it is 
believed, been marked by purity and upright- 
ness. As early as 183S, he became a member of 



... ^ '•, ■ — - 



NOTICE. 



Vll. 



the Unitarian Church in Nashua ; he was an ef- 
ficient teacher in the Sunday School, and a firm 
supporter of rehgious institutions and enterpri- 
ses, until sickness compelled him to retire from 
public action. His views in the anticipation of 
death were calm ; he s.emed to be without fear, 
and to rest on the assurances of his Heavenly 
Father's love. Only when he spoke of the great- 
ness of the blessings which that love had provid- 
ed, did his voice falter, and his ^iying word.^ seem 
too weak to express his overflowing gratitude. 
With such ties to life as few possess, beloved and 
honored by the community, dear to the Church 
of Christ, and cherished as a son, a husband and 
a father, he surrendered himself with calm faith 
to the will of his Creator. 



m^ 



CONT ENTS. 



Notice, Page iii. 

Preface, 3 

Introduction, 5 



CHAPTER I. THE FIRST SETTLERS OF DUN- 
STABLE. 

Early settlers of New England. Valleys of the Mer- 
rimac and Nashtia. Winnipisiogee. Chelmsford 
and Grotoii. Johnson and Willard's company. — 
Litchfield. Amherst. Milford. Grant to Joiin 
Whiting nt Salmon Brook. Grants to BiJIerica; — 
to Gov. Endicott ; — Henry Kimhall. Ancient and 
Honorable Artillery Company. Petition for incor- 
poration. Conditions. Boundaries. Name of 
Dunstable. Original proprietors. Lieut. Wheeler. 
John Cromwell. Indian tribes. Passaconoway. — 
Wannalancet. WicUasuck Island. Character and 
customs of the Indians. "The Bashaba's Feast." 
First settlers of Dunstable. First house lots. Or- 
chards. Old Fort. Articles of agreement. Desig- 
nation of place for the ineeting house 7 



CHAPTER II. THE INDIAN WAR OF 1675. 

King Philip. Perilous situation of Dunstable. In- 
dians remove. Garrison increased. Measm-es of 
Governor and Council. Friendship of Wannalan- 
cet. Mr. Tyng alone remains in Dunstable. Ifis 
petition. Attack on Chelmsford. Fort at Paw- 
tucket Falls. End of the War. Treatment of the 
friendly Indians. Mr. Tyn^ appointed their guar- 
dian. Allowances to him and to Thomas Wheeler. 



8^ 



■ ■"- '■■ ■ ^ -^ =^ 

CONTENTS. ix. 



Sudden appearance of Mohawks. Second appear- 
ance. VVannalancet retires to Canada. Treaty 
of Nimeguen ' 28 



CHAPTER 111. HISTORY FROM 1675 TO 1685. 

Town meetings. Selectmen. Efforts to settle a min- 
ister ; — to build a meeting lionse. Freeman's o&th. 
First meeting house. First births in the town.— 
Saw Mill. Settlement of Mr. Weld. Character 
of the people. Extracts from the records of the 
Colony. Town meetings. Appearance of a comet. 
Death of Hon. Edward Tyug. Increase of the 
town. Regulations respecting taxes, — wood, — 
swine. Mine Islands. Hezekiah Usher. Supposed 
Mines. Guard continued. Prices of wood. High- 
way from Groton. "Thirty acre rights." Setde- 
ment of Mr. Tyng's claim. Proprietors' names. 
Salary of Mr. Weld. Proceedings relative to a 
meeting house. Specie and produce. Town offi- 
cers. Taxes. New alarm from the Indians. — 
"The Pilgrim's Vision." 38 

CHAPTER IV. HISTORY FROM 1685 TO THE 
DEATH OF REV. Mr. WELD IN 1702. 

Meetinghouse built. Ordination of Mr. Weld. First 
church rnendjers. Covenant of neigjjboring church- 
es. Churches in New Hampshire at tliis date. — 
Cranfield's oppressive edict. Removal of the In- 
dians. Bridge in Billerica. Singular office. Rev- 
olution of 1688. French War of 1689. Indian 
attack on Dover. Garrisons. Letter of Major 
Henchnjan. Tythingman. Indian ravages. — 
Truce. War renewed. Murder of Hassell and 
others. Garrisons in Dunstable. Representatives 
chosen. Strict regulation to prevent settlers remov- 
ing. Grants for support of the ministry. Return 
of Warmalancet. Treaty of Ryswick. Joe Eng- 
lish. His adventures. Grant to him. Capture 
of Mrs. Duston at Haverhill. State of the town. 
Compensation of Mr. Weld. Billerica bridge.— 
Bridge over Salmon Brook. Wood-rate. Puritan 



3§^ 



X. CONTENTS. 



simplicity. List of inhabitants. Vote to glaze the 
meeting house. Petition for aid to support the min- 
istry. Deatii of Mr: Weld. His history. ... 55 



CHAPTER V. INDIAN WARS FROM 1703 TO 1713. 

Intercoiu'se with the Indians. Measures for defence. 
The Old Fort. Queen Anne's War. Bounty for 
scalps. Capt. Tyng. Massacre of the Parris fami- 
ly. Petition for assistance. Block house. Cus- 
toms at funerals. Garrison withdrawn. Grant to 
S. Butterfield. Attacit on the Weld garrison ; — 
Blanchard's; — Galusha's. Grants by General 
Court. Petition of Jacob Galluslia. Ambuscade. 
Death of Joe English. Precautions against the In- 
dians. Garrisons. Whiting. Hassell. Account 
of Indian wars from Bancroft, — from Mary Row- 
landson, 75 



CHAPTER YI. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY FROM 
1702 TO 1737. 

Imperfect accounts. Grant to the town. Rev. Sam- 
uel Hunt. His petition. Rev. Mr. Parris. Meet- 
ing house repaired. Assistance continued. In- 
creased prosperity. Rev. Mr. Cheever. Salary. — 
Mr. Treat. Votes. Rev. Mr. Peirpoint. Rev. Mr. 
Coffin. Facetious remark of Col. Taylor. Rev. 
Mr. Prentice. His marriage and death. Salary. 94 



CHAPTER VII. INDIAN ATTACK OF 1724. 

Peace of Utrecht. Prosperity. Indian disturbances 
renewed. Jesuits. Father Rasle. Attack at Merry 
Meeting Bay. Frontier towns, Dover. Garrison 
at Dunstable. Pecker's company, — Fairbanks's. — 
Death of Hon. Jonathan Tyng. Scouts. Attack 
on Norridgewock, and death of Rasle. Incursion 
of Mohawks. Cross and Blanchard captured. The 
pursuers waylaid and cutoff. Monument. Second 
fight. Name of Indian Head. William Lund cap- 
tured 102 



k-^ 



— — — - — =» 

CONTENTS. Xi. 



CHAPTER VIII. LOVEWELL'S WAR AND LOVE- 
WELL'S FIGHT. 

Petition of Lovewell and others. The Pequawketts. 
Lovewell's first expedition. Its success. Second 
excursion. Tiiirty men dismissed. Surprise ten 
Indians. Capt. Tyng's excursion. Lovewell's 
third expedition. Fort built and guard left there. 
Names of the party who proceeded. Arrive at a 
pond. Particular account of the Fight. Fate of 
the survivors. Liberality of the General Assembly. 
Expedition to bury the dead. Petition of Dunsta- 
ble. Petition of John Lovewell, senior. Further 
military operations. Alarm of the Indians. Fur- 
ther compensation to Lovewell's party. Ballad on 
Lovewell's fight. Death of Paugus. Second Bal- 
lad. Restoration of peace. Anecdotes of Indian 
hostilities Ill 



CHAPTER IX. CIVIL HISTORY OF THE TOWN 
UNTIL ITS DIVISION BY THE NEW STATE 
LINE IN 1741. ^ 

Increase of the town. Poverty. Bills of credit. — 
Loan to Mr. Prentice. Depreciation. Representa- 
tives. Extracts from the records. The meeting 
liouse. Pews erected. First pauper. Grand jury- 
men. Tythingman. Billerica bridge. Vote by 
ballot. Customs of the lime. Ferry-boat. Earth- 
quake. Inn-keepers. Boom built. Legal pro- 
ceedings. Taxes. Educaiion. Laws relating to 
it. Difficulty of observing them. Town indicted. 
Small amount raised. Neglect. Various disputes. 
Settlements extended. Nottingham, (Hudson.) — 
Merrimac. Litchfield. Vote to build a new meet- 
ing house. Hollis. Townsend. Settlement of 
tlie State Line. Rev. Mr. Swan settled. "New 
Lights." New meeting house built 135 



Sf . . ^ 



^ 



XU. CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER X. HISTORY OF DUNSTABLE, N; H., 
TO THE OLD FRENCH WAR. 

Incorporation by New Hampshire. Road to Tyngs- 
borough. Mr. Swan dismissed. Anecdote of him. 
Schools. Indian hostilities. Soldiers impressed. 
Farwell and Taylor captured. Rev. Mr, Bird set- 
tled. Divisions in the church. Proceedings de- 
clared illegal. Mr. Bird leaves Dunstable. Bitter- 
iiess of feeling. Petition of the inhabitants of Pine 
Hill. Schools. Bridges over the Nashua. Death 
and character of John Lovevvell. Statistics. Rev. 
Mr. Adams preaches. New meeting house built. . 150 



CHAPTER XI. HISTORY OF DUNSTABLE FROM 
THE FRENCH WAR TO THE REVOLUTION. 

Patriotic spirit of the people. Expedition to Crown 
Point. New Hampshire Regiment. Subsequent 
Armaments. Rogers's Rangers. Dunstable meu 
in the service. Col. Goffe's regiment. Singular 
order. Church affairs. Rev. Mr. Smith. Protest. 
Notice of Col. Blanchard. Rev. Josiah Cotton. — 
Ecclesiastical Council. Compromise. Town meet- 
ing on points of doctrine. Rev. Mr. Livermore. — 
Rev. Mr. Fessenden. Rev. Mr. Kidder settled. No- 
tice of him. Rev. Mr. Sperry. Slaves owned in 
town. Customs at funerals 159 



CHAPTER Xn. REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF 
DUNSTABLE. 

Revolutionary feelings. Favored by the organization in 
townships. Right of rei)resentation granted by the 
General Assembly. Conventions at Exeter. Con- 
stitution for the State. Fight at Lexington. Walk- 
er's eompaui'. Statistics. Character of the N. H. 
troops. Battle of Bunker Hill. Declaration of In- 
dependence anticipated. Depreciation of paper 
money. Meeting in consequence. Three regi- 
ments raised in the Stale. Company for Canada. 
Similar efforts the next year. Bounty offered. — 



CONTENTS. xiii. 



Surrender of Burgoyne. Committee of Safety.— 
Cenvention to regulate prices. Articles of Confed- 
eration. State Constitution. Rejected. Volun- 
teers. Representative. Patriotic exertions of the 
people iQg 



CHAPTER XIII. HISTORY TO THE ORIGIN OF 
NASHUA VILLAGE. 

Sacrifices made for independence. Convention for 
State Constitution. Representatives. Convention to 
adopt Constitution of TJ. S. Different opinions.— 
Vote of the town against it. Notice of Hon. Jona- 
than Blanchard,— of Judge Jonathan Lovewel I . . 186 



CHAPTER XIV. HISTORY OF NASHUA VILLA GE. 

First Stage Coach. Boating on the Merrimac. Pop- 
ulation in 1800. Canal Boat launched. Oration 
Naine of Nashua. Description of the Village. Post 
Office. Middlesex Canal. Gradual increase. Dun- 
stable plams. Changes in Main street. New meet- 
ing house built. Rev. Mr. Sperry ordained. Dams 
across Nashua River. Census. Manufactures con- 
templated. First views. Nashua Manufacturing 
Company. Their works. Boating Canal. Indian 
Head Company. Meeting house on Olive street 
erected. History of tlie two Congregational Socie- 
ties. New Bridge. Taylor's Falls Bridge. Unita- 
rian Church. Present state of Nashua Manufactur- 
ing Company. Jackson Companv. Newspapers. 
tn-st Baptist Church. Methodist Churches.— 
Growth of the Village. Railroads. Bank. Steam- 
boat. Universalist Church. Population. Second 
Baptist Church. Name of the town chano-ed — 
h ree-will Baptist Church. First Christian sScie'ty 
Protestant Episcopal Church. Machine Shop — 
Manufacturing and Mechanics Association. Iron 
t oundry. Factory at Salmon Brook. Vote to erect 
a Town House. Town of Nashville organized — 
Contrast of the past and present. ... * ]93 



Xiv. CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XV. NOTICES OF TOWNS INCLUDED 

IN OLD DUNSTABLE. 

Historical Sketch of Hudson 216 

Historical Sketch of Litchfield 220 

Historical Sketch of Merrimac 222 

Historical Sketch of HoUis 229 

APPENDIX. 

L Genealogy of the Early Settlers of DunstaUle . 237 

II. List of Soldiers in the Army, from Dunstable . 254 

III. Town House and Cemetery 257 

IV. Population of Nashua and Nashville, .... 261 

V. Lawyers and Physicians 263 

VI. List of Re[)resentatives 265 

VII. Proportion of Taxes at various periods . . . 268 

VIII. Value of Silver at different periods .... 260 

IX. Post Office 270 

X. Inventory and Expenses of Nashua .... 272 

XI. District Schools 275 



::z^m 



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HISTORY 



OF THE 



®U TiMBSIMIil' m BMIT-aiL 



bj i-^ V-, a 



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=i«i 



PREFACE 



The following work was undertaken in consequence of a vote 
passed al the Annual Meeting of the New Hampshire Historical 
Society, June, 1810, appointing the Author Chairman of the 
Committee upon Histories of Toicns. It was remarked that great 
deficiencies existed, and that materials should be speedily collected 
while so many of the immediate descendants of the first settlers 
were vet living. Attention v/as thus turned to the subject: — an 
examination of ancient records made and a collection of materials 
commenced, and the result is the compilation which is now submit- 
ted to the public. 

It would be inconvenient and burdensome to cite the authority 
for every statement that is made, but the reader may be assured 
that no fact is stated ss such without what is deemed to be good 
authority. The value of a work like this depends in a great mea- 
sure upon the accuracy of its details, and to this the writer confi- 
dently lays chiim. A large portion is extracted from the Town and 
Proprietary Records of Dunstable, which are in a good state of pre- 
servation, excepting a few years between 1694 and 1710. Much 
has been derived from the Town, Military, Ecclesiastical, Pecuni- 
ary, and Legislative Pvecords of the Commonwealth of Massachu- 
setts, prior to lj'41, in the office of the Secretary of State, at Bos- 
ton. Por many accommodations in examining and copying the 
Records I am indebted to Rev. Joseph B. Felt, who has been em- 
ployed for many j'ears by the State in arranging and binding them. 
The materials for minute and accurate history there collected and 
arranged by Mr. Felt, are very curious and valuable. A similar 
collection of papers, belonging to a period subsequent to 1741, and 
including the French and Revolutionary wars, is found in the office 
of the Secretary of this State, at Concord, to which free access 
has been granted. 

Frequent reference has also been had to the American, Massa- 
chusetts, and New Hampshire Historical Societies ; to Farmer's 



M^ 



4 PREFACE. 

and Moore's Historical Collections, Farmer's Notes to Belknap's 
New Hampshire; to the various Indian publications of Mr. Sam- 
uel E. Drake, the N. H. Gazetteer, and to all the Town and State 
Histories from which any thing could be gleaned. For much in- 
formation we are indebted to the old inhabitants of the Town, and 
to the descendants of the earh' settlers. 

Much time and labor have been devoted to the work. It may not 
be of general interest, but it is hoped that its object will be appre- 
ciated by those for whom especially it was designed. The Histo- 
ry of the settlement and growth of our Towns is deservedly attract- 
ing increased attention. As our old men pass away, and records 
are destroyed, and traditions forgotten, these collections thus pre- 
served from destruction, humble and useless though they may ap- 
pear to some, will become more and more valuable. Desirous of 
doing what he may for the home of his adoption, and fondly believ- 
ing that the subject will be intrinsically interesting to every inhab- 
itant of " Old Dunstable," liiis work has been prepared and is 
submitted by the Author. 

******* * * f^ * 

Since the above was written, (ISH,) five years have elapsed, and 
the work is unpublished, partly owing to the pressure of other la- 
bors, and partly to severe and long protracted sickness. An inter- 
val of comparative ease and the request of friends have now induced 
its preparation for the press, and it is offered to the indulgence of 
the public. It has been revised, enlarged and brought down to the 
present time. An effort has been made to obtain full and accurate 
statistics of the condition of the Village, but under the circumstan- 
ces, errors, omissions and imperfections must occur. For these 
charity is craved. 

That this and some other portions of the work will not be bo In- 
teresting to the general reader as the more romantic incidents is 
very evident, but there are few local Histories that contain so many 
of the latter as the present. Besides, the former are absolutely ne- 
cessary to the complete history of a town, especially of a manufac- 
turing town. To the kindness of friends the Author is so greatly 
indebted for assistance in such various forms, that he will only 
say, God bless them al! ! 



m- 



i^- 



INTIIODUCTION 



It was a remark of Edmund Burke, no super- 
ficial observer, that " they who never look back 
to their ancestors, will never look forward to pos- 
terity." There is great truth and beauty in the 
remark. Those who "build the tombs of the 
prophets," do not always, indeed, heed their pre- 
cepts or follow their example, but those who care 
nothing for the past, its actors or its story, will 
care little for the welfare of the future. It is na- 
tural and commendable to care for those who 
have gone before us. " They have labored, and 
we have entered into their labors." The men 
who settled this region, and " hewed the ancient 
woods away," were such as the world had rarely 
seen. They were ready to do all, and dare all, 
and suffer all for the sake of conscience. They 
"called no man master," and the germ of free- 
dom which they planted in the wilderness, be- 
came the noble "Liberty Tree" of the Revolution. 



^■ 



-121 



INTRODUCTION. 



Of such descent we may well be proud. We 
wish to know who they were, and when, and 
where, and how they lived. Their toils and pri- 
vations and sufferings, their opinions and pecu- 
liarities to us should be important. From them 
is derived all that is peculiar to the New Eng- 
land character ; its energy, its ingenuity, its per- 
severance, and its hatred of tyranny in all its 
forms and manifestations. An insight into their 
every day life would be most valuable, but they 
have passed away, and the story of the fust set- 
tlers of Dunstable^ with its startling romance and 
stern realities, has nearly perished with them. A 
few materials yet exist, scattered and imperfect, 
in cotcmporary journals and musty records, in 
ancient burial grounds or in uncertain traditions, 
only to be gathered with great labor and anti- 
quarian zeal and patience. These perishing me- 
morials have been sought out and embodied with 
filial regard, by one who is proud of a descent 
from the first settlers, trusting that the simple 
story of Indian perils and Revolutionary patriot- 
ism, of toil and perseverance, of enterprise and 
success will not prove entirely destitute of inter- 
est or of instruction. 



!«=:: 



=SK 



Ji= 



CIIArTER I. 



THE FIRST SETTLERS OF DUNSTxABLE. 



The landing of the Pilgrims at Plymonth in 
December, 1620, is an epoch in the world's his- 
tory. '-On this bleak New England shore," in 
the wilderness, with the snows of winter around 
them and a (ew wretched dwellings to protect 
them, and wild beasts and wilder men, they es- 
tablished a Colony which is destined to solve a 
problem for the human race. Its motto and its 
basis was " freedom to worship God." Perse- 
cuted in the old world alike by Catholic and Epis- 
copalian for opinion's sake, driven from their 
homes, they came to this " wilderness world " 
with gladsome hearts, " singing the songs of Zi- 
on," even in this "strange land," for that "here 
they could worship God according to the dictates 
of their consciences in peace." 

The Plymouth settlers were but pioneers, and 
soon crowds flocked hither, ready to dare all and 
to endure all for the priceless boon of a free con- 
science and free speech. Roston, Salem, Ports- 
mouth and Dover were settled, and every where, 
v/ith each little band of brethren, the "man of 
God" went forth to cheer them in toil, in peril, 
and in death. As the fame of this new asylum 
for the oppressed began to spread abroad more 
widely, greater crowds of emigrants came, until 
the older settlements became too populous. Ad- 
-k- —- ^ 



^■ 



HISTORY OF 



venturous spirits went forth into the wilderness 
upon every side to found new plantations, and at 
a very early period, not long after the settlement 
of Boston, attention was turned towards the val- 
leys of the Merrimac and the Nashua. In Au- 
gust, 1652, (1) the valley of the Merrimac as far 
northward as the outlet of Lake Winnipisiogee, 
was surveyed by Capt. Simon Willard and Capt. 
Edward Johnson, and its rich basins and valua- 
ble fishing stations were laid open to to the eager 
gaze of the adventurers. 

The valleys of the Merrimac and Nashua are 
of alluvial formation. That they have undergone 
great changes is very evident. Their general aj)- 
pearance, the shape of their basins, their outlets, 
their different levels, and the stratified character 
of the soil, all show that at some remote period 
the greater portion of these valleys must have 
been covered with water in the form of Lakes or 
large Ponds. Geologists find the same character- 
istics upon all our Rivers, and some even refer 
their origin to the Deluge. But whenever and 
however their origin may have been, it is evident 
that the valley of the Merrimac was once a suc- 
cession of Lakes, one ending at Pawtucket Falls, 
and another at Amoskeag Falls, through whose 
rocky basins the waters at length burst their way, 
and formed their present lower channel, leaving 
their former beds dry. 

(I) This survey was made by order of the General Assembly of 
Massachusetts to determine the Northerly bound of the Colnnv, and 
an inscription was made upon a lar^e stone in Winnipisiogee River, 
at a point " ihrpe miles North of the head of Merrimac Biver," to 
designate tlie spot. The Colony of Massachusetts then claimed all 
the land lying " three miles " North and East of the Merrimac froiu 
its month to this point, and thence due West to New York. This 
stone was discovered a few years since, and gave rise to many con- 
jectures as to its origin. For an account of it, see 4 N. H. Histori- 
cal Collections, 194. 

& - --^ 



ED- 
NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 9 

The same is equally true of the valley of the 
Nashua, one outlet being at Mine Palls, and 
another at the high bluff near the Nashua Cor- 
poration, through which the river has forced 
a passage, and left large basins exposed for 
cultivation. In corroboration of this theory we 
know that logs have often been found here, buried 
in the earth at a great depth. When the excava- 
tion for the foundation of the Locks near the Mer- 
rimac was being made in 1825, at a spot about 
one hundred feet from the River, and at a depth 
of many feet below the surface, the workmen 
found several logs, a quantity of charcoal, as if 
the remains of a fire, and a toad^ which, on being 
exposed to the sun and air, revived and hopped 
away. Such discoveries are not of unfrequent 
occurrence, but as to the time and mode of their 
deposit we are left only to theory and conjecture. 

The valley of the Merrimac was not an object 
of desire to the English alone. From the earliest 
periods it seems to have been looked upon by the 
Indian as almost a Paradise. The Wiiniipisio- 
gee^ or " the very pleasant place where there is 
but little land,*' was deeply beloved. (1.) The 
Merrimac with its numerous Naamkeeks^ or fish- 
ing stations, and its rich planting fields for maize, 
was still more dear. So far, indeed, had its fame 
extended, that in 1604, years before the Landing 
at Plymouth, a French Jesuit, writing from Can- 
ada to Prance, could say : " The Indians tell us 
of a heautifid River lying far to the South^ lohich 
they call Merrimac P (2.) 

(1.) The Indians are also said to have called it, " The smile of 
the Great Spirit." The name is Winni-pecsi-okhe, and should be 
pronounced Win-ni-pis-saw'-key, with the accent on the last syllable 
but one. 

(2.) Sieur De Monts. Relations of the Jesuits, 1G04. Merrimac 
means Sturgeon. There is also a Merrimac which flows into the 
Missouri river. 

Wi^::^:^^:^:::^:^ -^ , — rr^. -M 



■K 



10 HISTORY OF 



The Indians who inhabited the more souther- 
ly portions of the valley were of a mild disposi- 
tion, and invited intercourse v/ith the whites. In 

1655 the settlements had extended as far North 
as Chelmsford and Groton. From 1655 to 1665 
v/as a period of unwonted activity and prosperi- 
ty. There was peace with the Indians, and the 
tide of population rolled onwards rapidly. The 
Indians had planting fields all along the valleys 
of the Merrimac, the Souhegan, and the Nashua, 
and these were objects of eager desire to the 
settler. About 1655, grants of land in this vicin- 
ity were made to those who belonged to the ex- 
ploring company of Johnson and Willard. In 

1656 the lands upon both sides of the Merrimac, 
extending on the v/est side from Naticook 
brook (1) to a line about a mile south of Peni- 
chuck brook, and including the greater part of 
Litchfield, were granted to William Brenton, and 
called " Bren ton's Farm." (2.) Nearly all the in- 
terval lands about Naticook were granted not 
long after. 

In 1659 and 1660 large tracts of land were 
granted upon the Souhegan river, (3.) at a place 
called by the Indians Quohqulnna-p ashes s an- 
a?iagtiog, being the meadows in Amherst which 
lie at the mouth of the small brook, which, aris- 
ing in Mont Vernon, and flowing around the plain 
in Amherst, runs into the Souhegan in the South 
part of the town. Five hundred acres were grant- 
ed to Capt. William Davis of Boston and Capt. 

(1.) Naticook is the lilile brook jusl above Thornton's Ferry, in 
Merrimac. 

(2.) The Indian name of Litchfield and Merrimac was Naticook. 
Sometimes the land East of the river was called Nacook. — Belknap, 
224. N. H. Gazetteer. Litchfield. 

(3.) This was anciently written Souhegenack, and means, it is 
said, crooked.— 5 N. H. Hist. Coll., 87. 



m 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 11 

Isaac Johnson of Roxbiiry ; (1.) 500 acres to 
Mrs. Anna Lane ; and 300 acres to John Wilson 
of Boston. 1000 acres were also granted to the 
town of Charlestown for a "School Farm," lying 
upon the Souhegan, in Milford, about four or five 
raiies westerly of the first grants, '^at a great 
hill called Dramcap hill,'' and 500 acres to Mrs. 
Anna Cole '^ adjoining thereto.'' (2.) 

About the same time a grant of 400 acres, ly- 
ing at the mouth of Salmon Brook, was made to 
John Whiting. It was bounded on the north 
"by the upland," and extended up the brook 
about a mile and a half, embracing the souther- 
ly part of Nashua Village. Several hundred 
acres, also, were granted atPenichuck Pond, and 
so down Penichuck Brook, in Merrimac and 
Nashville. 

About 1G62, 500 acres upon the easterly side 
of the Merrimac, in Litchfield, " at Nacook," 
were granted to the town of Billerica for a "School 
Farm^' and 300 acres adjoining, to " Phinehas 
Pratt and others for straiglits and hardships en- 
dured by them in planting at Plymoutli of w luck || 
he was one.^^ (3.) ^ ! 

Four liundred acres were graiited to Gov. Eai- 
dicott, "lying in the westerly part of Peiham," |; 
about six miles north of Pav/tucket Falls, and jl 
one mile west of Beaver Brook, at a great hill ji 
called Masha-shaUiick, (4.) " lying between two ji 
other great hills, and adjoining sonth.crly on a i; 
great Pond called Plmrno-mlUl-qnonnii.''^ :i 

(1.) C>!pt. Johnson was tvilifd at the great Narragansct Swainp S 

Fia-ht, Dec. 19, 1675. j 

('2.) These r,M-aiits were all made hy Masjcschusctls. For an r.e- i| 

count of them soe Assembly Ilecrch. 1659, 1G60, in the office of the |1 

Secre'.arv of the Commonweallh, at Mo'^iow, pages 327, 357. 35S, [' 

359, 364 ,'401. ji 

{■3.) Drake's Bool: of fJie Indians, page 35. Mn^s. Assembly i. 

Records, 1G62, 1605. " . jl 

(4.) Mussa-altiick mcana Decr-hUl. Plmmo-inltti-quonnit sig- jj 

nifies a Long Pond. ■ li 



12 HISTORY OF 



About this period, but at what date is uncer- 
taiUj a grant of a large tract in Hudson and Pel- 
ham was made to Henry Kimball, and called 
" Henry KimbaWs Farni.^^ Samuel Scarlet had 
a farm also, on the north side of Merrimac Riv- 
er, perhaps in Tyngsborough ; Lieut. Joseph 
Wheeler, and his father Capt. Thomas Wheeler, 
had a farm upon the Merrimac, in Nashua, a lit- 
tle south of Salmon Brook, and several others 
whose names are not preserved. 

In September, 1673, a grant of 1000 acres, ly- 
ing in Nashville, was m^ade to the "Ancient and 
Honorable Artillery Company" of Boston. It 
was bounded East by the Merrimac, south by 
the Nashua, West by Spectacle Brook, (1.) and 
extended about one mile northerly of Nashua 
River. This embraced the whole of the village 
of Nashville, and was called the ^'-Artillery 
Farin.'^ From this circumstance the little Pond 
in the north part of the village was called " Ar- 
tillery PojidJ^ 

At this period, 14,000 acres, lying along the 
Merrimac, upon both sides, between Souhegan 
River and Chelmsford, had been granted to 
various individuals, but as yet few settlements 
had been made. It became necessary, therefore, 
for their mutual benefit, to consolidate all the 
grants into one plantation^ and to secure to the 
inhabitants all the privileges and immunities of 
an incorporated Township. Accordingly, in Sep- 
tember, 1673, the proprietors of the farms alrea- 
dy laid out, and others who v/ere disposed to set- 
tle here, presented a Petition to the General As- 
sembly, of which the following is a copy. (2.) 

(1.) The little brook about a mile Westerly of the village, which 
runs through the farm now owned by Hiram Vv'^oods. — Mass. As- 
sembly Records, 1 673 : page 729. . 

{2.). Mass. Assembly Records, 1C73. The original Petition is on 
file, and the ancient spelling has been preserved. 



M 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



m-. 



"To the Honored Governor, Deputy Governor, with the 
Magistrntes and De[)iuies now assembled in the Gener- 
al Court at Boston, Sept. 19, 1673. 
" The Petition of the Piopiietors of the farms that are laid 
out upon Merrimac River, and places adjacent, with oth- 
ers vviio desire to joyn with them in the settlement of a 
plantation there — 

" Humbly Sheweth 
" That whereas there is a considerable tract of the Coun- 
try's land that is invironed with the proprieties of partic- 
ular persons and towns, viz : by the line of the town of 
Chelmsford, and by Groton line, and by Mr. Brenton's 
farm, by Souhegan fiu-ms, and beyond Merrimac River by 
the outermost line of Henry Kimball's farm, and so to 
Chelmsford line again — All which is in little capacity 
of doing the country any service except the farms border- 
ing upon it be adjoined to said land, to make a plantation 
there; and there being a considerable number of persons 
who are of a sober and orderly conversation, who do stand 
in great need of accommodations, who are willing and rea- 
dy to make present improvement of the said vacant lands: 
And the Proprietors of the said farms are therefore wil- 
ling to join with and give encouragement to those that 
shall improve the said lands: — the farms of those that are 
within the tract of land before described, being about 14,- 

000 acres at the least : 

"Your Petitioners therefore humbly request the favour 
of the Honorable Court that they will please to grant the 
said tract of land to your Petitioners, and to such as will 
join with thetn in the settlement of the lands before men- 
tioned, so that those who have improved their farms there, 
and others who speedily intend to do the same, may be in 
a way for the support of the public ordinances of God, for 
without which the greatest part of the year they will be 
deprived of, the farms lying so tar remote from any towns : 
and farther that the Honorable Court will please grant the 
like immunities to this plantation, as they in their favours 
have formerly granted to other new Plantations: — So shall 
your Petitioners be ever engaged to pray : 

"1. Thomas Brattle. 8. Samuel Scarlet. 

2. Jonathan Tyng. 9. William Lakin. 

3. Joseph Wheeler. 10. Abraham Parker. 

4. James Parkerson. 11. James Knapp. 

5. Robert Gibbs. 12. Robert Proctor. 

6. John Turner. 13. Simon Willard, Jr. 

7. Sampson Sheafe. 14. Thomas Edwards. 



m- 



14 HISTOKY OF 

J 5. Thomas Wheeler, Sen. 21. John Parker. 

Kh Peter Bulkelv. 22. Josiah Parker. 

17. Joseph Parker. 23. Nathauiel Blood. 

18. John Morse, Sen. 24. Robert Parris. 

19. Samuel Combs. 2.^^. John Jolliffe. 

20. James Parker, Jr. 2C. Zaciiariah Long." 

The Petition was granted upon conditions 
which were then universally inserted in the 
Charters; that the Grantees should '^ scitW^ the 
Plantation, procure a minister within three years, 
and reserve a farm for the use of the Colony. By 
settling the Plantation was understood procuring 
a competent number of actual settlers, (twenty or 
more,) who should build houses capable of de- 
fence, at least eighteen feet square, and who should 
live upon and improve their lands; and also, the 
erection of a Meeting House. The following is 
a copy of the original Charter, doted October 15, 
1673,' (corresponding with October 26th, New 
St^de,) which includes all the above grants. (1.) 

'•At a General Court held at Boston ye 15th (26th) Octo- 
ber, 1673. 

In answer to the Petition of Thomas Braltio, Jonatijan 
Tyng, James Parker and William Lakin, in huhriif of ihem- 
yelves and others joyning in their humble Petition to de- 
sire the favor of this Court to grant them libeity to seUle^ 
a plantation with their ffarmes, and a considerable trr.ct of 
land belonging to ye country being invironed witli the pro- 
]irietie6 of particular persons and towns; as by ye line of 
Chelmsford, and by Groton line, and by Mr. Brenton's 
ftarm, by Souhegan'ffarmes, and beyond Merrimac Kiver 
by ye utmost line of llenry Kimbol's farme, and so to 
Chelmsford line again, as also such other immunities to 
the plantation as this Court hath formeily granted to other 
new plantations: — 

The Court judgeth it meet to grant their request provided 
a farme of five hundred acres of upland and medo be laid 

(1.) Mass. Assembly Records, 1673, Pa^e 730. Records of 
Towns, 1G73. In order to make the dat-.'s which are previous to A. 
D. 1751, compared with our present roc kouing. e/firen rfoj/s should 
in all cases be added. 



Mr- 



[p\\P (o)C^ v®!® ©PJMi.T/;^. [B [LX o 




NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



out of this tract for the country's use, and that they shall in 
settling tlie plantation endeavor so as to finish it once (1.) 
within three years, and procure an able and othordox min- 
ister amongst them. 

That this is a true copy taken and compared with the 
original records, Attest 

Edward Raws on, Secretary." 

In May, 1674, the new Plantation was survey- 
ed by Jonathan Danforth, and its boundaries are 
thus described : (2.) 

"It lieth upon botli sides Merrimnc River on the Nssha- 
way River. It is hounded on the South by Chelmsford, by 
Groton line, and partly by country land. The Westerly 
line runs due North until you come to Souiiegan River io 
a hill called dram cup hill to a great pine near to ye said 
River at the N. W. corner of Charlestown School farm ; 
bounded by Souhegan River on the North ; and on the 
East side Merrimac it begi/is at a great stone which was 
supposed to be near the North East corner of Mr. Brenton's 
land ; and from tlience it runs Sou. south east six miles to 
a pine tree marked :F: standing within sight of Beaver 
Brook ; thence it runs two degrees West of South four 
miles and a quarter which reached to the south side of 
Henry Kimble's farm at Jeremie's Hill ; thence from ye 
South east angell of said farm it runs two degrees and a 
quarter westward of the south near to the head of the Long 
Pond which lieth at ye head of Edward Colburn's farm.— 
And thus it is bounded by ye said Pond and the head of 
said Colburn's farm; taking in Cajitain Scarlett's farm so 
as to close again ; all which is sufficiently bounded and 
described. 

Dunstable, 3d. mo. (May) 1674." (3.) 

(I.) The meaning of this is obscure: perhaps it is that the num- 
ber of settlers necessary to make or " finish " a settlement shall be 
procured within three years. 

(2.) Toxcn and Proprietary Records^ Page I. 

(3.) Before A. D. 1751, the year began Marcli 25th., and the 
months were often numbered thus: March, or first month; April 
second month ; May, third month, &c. In 1751 thev began 'to reck- 
on the year from the first day of January. At that time, in conse- 
quence of having reckoned only 365 daj's to a year, eleven days had 
been gained, which were then struck out of the calendar. Dales 
prior to 1751 are called Old Style; subsequent, New Style. 

~ *2 ~ 



(1.) This Pond is sitnated near ihe Meeting House, and is stilt 
called " Tanapuf? Pond." Ilfin^ca-tavapus signifies Bear Pond. — 
Alass. Records. Tovns. 1734. Pasrc G3. 



16 HISTORY OF li 

11 

The Township of Dunstable embraced a very |j 
large tract, probabl}?' wore than two hundred square \ i 
miles, inchidiiig the Towns of Nashua, Nashville, j| 
Hudson, Hollis, Dunstable and Tyiigsborough, |j 
besides portions of the towns of Amherst, Mil- 
ford, Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry, Pel- 
ham, Brookline, Pepperell, and Townsend, and 
formed a part of the County of Middlesex. At 
tliis late day it is extremely difficult to define its 
i boundaries accurately, but by a perambulation of 
! lines made in 1734, an approximation may be 
j made. Tlie north eastern corner Vx'as a very 
I large and high rock novv^ standing about liirec 
ij miles north easterly of the mouth of Souhegan 
[| River in Londonderry. The south east corner 
|i was " at the corner of Methuen and Dracut."' '' in 
ji sight of Beaver Brook. ^' The north west cor- 
ji ner was at " dram cup hill"' on the Souhegan, in 
I' the Avesterly part of Mil ford, and the westerly 
!i line which ran '^ due South," passed '-near the 
ji west end of Mnscatanapns Pond,"' in Brook- 

I line.(L) It extended ten or twelve miles west of 
!! Merrimac River, and from three to five miles 
|i east of it, and its averasje length north and 
H south was from twelve to fourteen miles. The 
Ij present Tovv'usliip of Nashua and Nashville oc- 

II cupies very nearly the centre of the original ;; 
T5wnship. |j 

In 1674, because there was "very little medo jl 
left except what is already granted to the fiarmes.'' || 
the easterly line of ihe tov/nship was extended 
to Beaver Brook, by an additional grant from the 
General Court, and the Town was called Dux- 
stable. It received its name in compliment to 
Mrs. Mary Tyng, wife of Hon. Edward Tyng, 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 17 



one of the Magistrates of the Commomveahh of 
Massachusetts, wiio came from Dunstable, Eng- 

lund. 

Arnona^ the orighial Proprietors we find the 
names of many of the leading men in the Colony, 
some of whom, with the children and friends of 
others, removed here and took up tiieir abode at 
an early period. Of this nnmber we find Gov, 
Dudley, v,'ho married a dangiiter of Hon. Ed- 
ward Ty"? ^'^ ^'^'^ town, Rev. Thomas Weld. 
who was the first minister, and married another 
daughter, Thomas Brattle, Peter Bulkeiy, Heze- 
kiah Usher, Eiisha Hutchinson, Francis Cook, 
and others who v.^ere Assistants and Magistrates. 
Many of the iirst settlers belonged to Boston and 
its vicinity, a circumstance which gave strength 
and influence to the infant plantation. 

At what time and by whom Dunstable was 
first settled is uncertain, but it must have been 
considerably earlier than the date of the charter 
in 1673, In the Charter farms are mentioned as 
then existing, and some of '• the farmers '' were 
among the Petitioners. Of this number were 
Scarlett, Wheeler, and oihers. In 1675, orchards 
are mentioned as then in existence, which most 
have been tlie crovv^th of years. In 1674, "Me 
house of Lt. ¥/hccler''' is designated as a place 
of lioldi ng a meeting of the Proprietors, and we 
have some reason to suppose that he may have 
been the earliest settler, (1.) Wheeler and Bren- 
ton Vv^cre fur traders among the Indians. In 1657, 
tiie trade with tlie Indians was regulated by the 
General Court, and tlie exclusive right of this 
trade upon Merrimac river was sold to " Maj. 

(I.) Ll. Wliecler lofL town in Philip's War, 1G75, and did not rc- 
Xwxw. Hi!? [hll\er, Cnpt. Tiionias Wheeler, oIGrokiii, the noted lu- 
ciiaii fighter, for a tiine resided with him.— 2 A'. H. Hisl. Coll. 5. 



18 HISTORY OF 



'-M 



(Simon.) Willard, Mr. (William,) Brenton, En- 
sign (Thomas.) Wheeler, and Tliomas Hench- 
man," for £25. The sale bears date July I, 
1657. (1.) 

For the purpose of trafficking with the Indians 
more conveniently, it was customar\^ to establish 
trading houses beyond the settlements, and at 
places to which they could easily resort. It is 
not impossible that Wheeler may have resided 
here for such a purpose, at an early date after his 
grant, as Henchman resided a httle farther south 
in Chelm.sford. About 1665, John Cromwell, an 
Indian trader also, resided at Tyngsborough, but 
soon after removed to Merrimac, where he built 
a trading house, about two miles above the mouth 
of Penichuck brook, at the falls which now bear 
his name. (2.) According to the custom of the 
time, it is said that he used his foot as a po2ind 
iDBightm the purchase of furs, until the Indians, 
beginning to suspect him of cheating them, drove 
him away and burned his house, the cellar of 
which still is or wa-s recently visible. It is stat- 
ed by Farmer, (3.) whose authority is imques- 
tionable, that '• the ancient settlement" was with- 
in the limits of Nashua, and as grants of land 
here were made in 1659, and farms existed here be- 
fore 1673, and as Chelmsford was settled in 1655, 
we may reasonably conclude that some, who 
stood "in great need of accommodations," found 
their way to the rich intervals upon our rivers, at a 
period not much later than the date of the grants. 

(I.) Mj.ss. Assembly Records, 1657, pag-e 293. The trade of 
" Nashuway river " was sold at the same lime lor £S. 

(2.) The Indian name of Cromwell's Falls was Nescnkeav^, and, 
as was generalljf the case, as at Naticook, Amoskeag, &c., the land 
for some distance around received the same name. 

(3.) Bdknap, 117, note by Farmer, and his manuscript records. 
In his '= Catechism of the History of New^ Hampshire," he says : — 
" This town had been settled several years before the date of the 
Charter. Pasre 23. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, kC. 19 

It has often been remarked that, in the set- 
tlement of New England, we may discover the 
hand of an overrnling Providence. The Plague, 
which swept off the Indian tribes in and around 
PIvmouth and Piscataf[na, in 1612 and 1613, 
prepared the way for the coming of the forefath- 
ers, and similar providential events occurred as 
population moved westward. The valleys of 
the Merrimac and the Nashua were inhabited by 
numerous small tribes, or branches of tribes of 
Indians, who lived in villages containing one hun- 
dred or two hundred souls, and subsisted chiefly 
by Ashing an i hunting. The Nashaways had 
their head quarters at Lancaster ; the Nashobas 
at Littleton : the Pawtnckets at Pawtucket Falls; 
the Wamesits at Wamesit Falls, at the mouth of 
Concord river ; the Naticooks in this vicinity; 
and the Penacooks around Penacook, now Con- 
cord. N. H. They were all, however, subject to 
Passaconov/a3^ The Moiiawks, or Maquas, a 
fierce and savage tribe from New York, were the 
liereditary enemies of them all. The Indian 
tribes wliich dwelt nearest to the English settle- 
ments, and especially the Pawluckets and Wam- 
esits, from their weakness, and their fears both 
of the Mohawks and the English, craved the 
friendship and protection of the latter. They 
served as guides and sentinels for the exposed 
frontiers, and v/ere often of great service. Tlie 
Penacooks, however, were a more bold, warlike, 
and dangerous race, who refused all attempts to 
christianize them, although their dread of the 
English was generally sufficient to keep them 
from open hostility. 

In the spring of 1669, a portion of the Pena- 
cooks. fearing an attack from the Mohawks, mov- 
ed down the Merrimac to the Pawtucket, and 
built a fort there for their protection. Their 



li^- 



20 HISTORY OF 



neighborhood was a cause of alarm to the set- 
tlers, some of whom shut themselves up in garri- 
sons; but in the succeeding autumn they joined 
in an expedition against the Mohawks, by whom 
they were overpowered, and almost entirely de- 
stroyed. (1.) The greater part of the Indians in 
tills vicinity, especially the more turbulent and 
dangerous to the number of six or seven hvndred^ 
united in this expedition, and nearly the whole 
of them perished, with more than fifty chiefs. 
The remnant, dispirited and powerless, united 
with the Wamesits, and became ^^ p7^aying In- 
dians.^^ 

At this time, Passaconaway (2.) was sachem 
of the Peiiacooks and held rule over all the Indi- 
ans from the Piscataqua to the Connecticut, and 
all down the Merrimac. He resided at Penacook, 
and the Naticooks, Pawtuckets and Wamesits 
were subject to his power. He liad been a great 
warrior, and was the greatest and '' most noted 
powow and sorcerer of ail the country." (3.) He 
died before 1670, at the great age of one hundred 
and twenty. " In 1660, not long before his death., 
at a great feast and dance, he made his farewell 
speech to his people. In this he urged them, as 
a dying man, to take heed how they quarrelled 
with their English neighbors, for though they 
might do them some harm, yet it would prove the 
means of their own destruction. He told them 
that he had been a bitter enemy to the English, 
and had tried all the arts of sorcery to prevent 
their settlement, but could by no means suc- 
ceed." (4.) 

(1. Book of the Lidians, 45. Allen's History of Chehns ford, MO 
to 161. 

(2.) Gookin''s History of the Christian Indians. 2 Am. Antiq. 
Collections. 

(3.) Hubbard's Indian Wars. 

(4.) Gookin. Hubbard. 4 N. H. Hist. Coll. 23. 



\t 



NASHUA, NASHVILLEj (fcC. 21 

This declaration made a great impression, for 
we find that Wannalancet, his second son and 
successor, after the eldest son with the more rest- 
less part of the tribe had removed into Maine, 
was always after a friend to the whites. He re- 
sided generally at Wamesit falls, and was propri- 
etor, with his tribe, of all the lands in this vicin- 
ity. About 1663, the eldest son of Passacona- 
way was thrown into jail for a debt of £45, due 
to John Tinker by one of his tribe, and which he 
had promised verbally should be paid. To re- 
lieve him from his imprisonment, his brother 
Wannalancet and others who owned Wicasuck 
Island, (1.) sold it and paid the debt. 

Soon after, the General Court granted him one 
hundred acres of land " on a great hill about 
twelve miles west of Chelmsford," and probably 
in Pepperell, because he had "a great many chil- 
dren and no planting grounds." " In 1665, he pe- 
titioned the General Court that this island might 
be restored to him and his brethren, the original 
owners, and the original petition, signed by him 
with the others, in a fair, bold hand, is now on 
file at the Secretary's office. His request was 
granted, and the Island purchased and restored 
by the colony. (2.) 

About 1675, during the war w^ith King Philip, 
he left Wamesit, and resided in Canada and va- 
rious other places, lest he should be drawn into 
the contest. During these wanderings he warn- 
ed the whites of many intended attacks and avert- 
ed others. When Wannalancet returned to Paw- 
tucket, after the death of Philip, he called upon 
Rev. Mr. Fiske, of Chelmsford, and inquired 
what disasters had befallen the town during the 

(I.) Wicasuclc is the small island in Merrimac river, near Wicas- 
see falls, in Tyngsborough. 
(2.) Assembly Records, Mass.,[66d,pag-e 106. 



22 HISTORY OF il 

- i! 

war. Mr. Fiske replied that they had been high- 
ly favored, for which he desired '• to thank God." 
''Me 7ie.T(,'^ said tlie shrewd J^agamore, who 
claimed his share of the merit. Thus providen- 
tially was all this region freed from hostile Indi- 
ans, and the way opened for the coming of oar !; 
fathers in comparative safety. ! 

The valleys of the Naticook, of Salmon brook ■ 
and the Nashna, (or Watananock as it is called ;! 
in the Conrt Records.) especially near tlieir il 
mouths, were favorite resorts and abodes ot^ the i! 
Indians. There, memorials of their residence i| 
have often been discovered. Such spots, com- 'i 
bining a rich and easily v/ronght alluvial soil '; 
with productive fisheries, were alv/ays chosen ; !: 
and the choice was a wise and beautiful one. jj 
The Indian was the child of Nature, and gazed jj 
upon her charms v\ath filial admiration. With a li 
true sense of the sublime, to him " the mountains •}■ 
were God's altars," and he look'ed up to their i 
cloud-capped summits with deep av/e, as the 
dwelling place of "the Great Spirit." 

With a sense of the beautiful equally true, 
their homes were grouped togeiher in some shel- , 
tered valley, girt round with hills, and woods, : 
and water falls; or by the border of some quiet [\ 
lake, or upon the rich alluvium of the river; but '■ 
whether for convenience or beauty, they were ev- 
er by the water-side. And truly, v/hen these 
spots were covered with the grand old v/oods, jj 
their primal vesiure, when the v/hite man's steps ' 
had not yet profaned the solitude, tew scenes ' 
could have been found more lovely than the val- ;; 
leys of the Merrimac, of Salmon brook, and the i| 

Nashua. i 

' i 

The Chiefs who dwelt in tliose valleys did not !] 
generally liv^e in a style of much greater magnifi- 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 23 



cence than their subjects, thou^^h they enjoyed 
greater abundance. Their confederacy was a 
great democracy, where danger, confiict and toil 
and privation Vvrere shared ahke by all, the lead- 
er being distinguished only by greater' exertions 
and braver daring. But en great occasions they 
exhibited a rude splendor and profusion beSttino- 
the dignity of the tribe and its riders, Sachems^ 
and to which all contribiaed, Whittier, in his 
"Bridal of Penacook," has given us a graphic 
picture of p. wedding and dance given by Passa- 
ccnaway on the marriage of hi^ claugluer, Weta- 
moo, to Vfinnepurkit, Sachem of Saugus, Maine. 
He has most beautifully and happily introduced 
the sweet and flowing Indian names, (hov/ bar- 
barous the taste which substituted most of our 
modern ones !) which abound along the Merrimac 
and its tributaries, and the whole scene is de- 
lightful as a specimen of Indian domestic life. 
For this reason, and as a portion of the luxuries 
were furnished by our own streams and hillsides, 
it is thought that its insertion here wiW not be 
inappropriate: — 

THE BASHABA'Sil.) FEAST. 

" Wiih })ipe3 of peace and bows unstrupg. 
Glowinj^ wiiji jjaint, came old and young", 
In wamjrum, imd furs and fcatliers arrayed, 
To tlie ranee an-d feast Bashaba made. * 

Bird of the rir and beast of the field. 
All which ti:G woods and waters yield, 
On dishes of birch and hemlock piled, 
Garnished and graced diat banquet wild. 

Steaks of the brown bear fat and large, 

From the rocky slopes of the Kearsargei 

Delicate trout from Babboosuck brook, 

And salmon sp??ar'd in the Contcoeook; \\ 



(1.) The name given to two or three principal chiefs. 
3 """ "^ 



m 



24 HISTORY OF 



?, 



Squirrels wliich fed where nuts fell thick, 
In the gravelly bed of the Otternic, 
And small wild hens in reed-snares caught, 
From the banks of Sondagardee brought. 

Pike and perch from the Suncook taken, 
Nuts from the trees of the Black Hills shaken, 
Cranberries picked in the Squamscot bog, 
And grapes from the vines of Piscataqucg. 

And drawn from that great stone vase wliich stands 
In the river scooped by a spirit's h.ands, (1.) 
In white parched pile, or thick suppawn. 
Stood the birchen dishes of smoking corn. 



Thus bird of the air and beast of the field, 
i All which the woods and water yield, 

5 Furnished in that olden day, 

\ The bridal feast of the Bashaba. 

And merrily when that feast was done. 
On th3 fire-lit green, the dance begun ; 
With tlie squaws' shrill stave, and deeper huin 
Of old men beating the Indian drum. 

Painted and plumed, with scalp locks flowing. 
And red arms tossing, and bl.ick eyes glowing; 
Now in the light and now in the shade, 
Around the fires the dancers played. 



The step was quicker, the song more shrill, 
And the bent of the small drums louder still, 
Whenever within the circle drew, 
The Saugus Sachem and We&tamoo." 

Among the first settlers of Dunstable we find 
the names of Rev. Mr. Thomas Weld, Joseph 
Wheeler, John Blanchard, Jonathan Tyng, Cor- 
nelius Waldo, Samuel Warner, Obadiah Perry, 
Samuel French, Robert Parris, Thomas Ciim- 
mings, Isaac Cum_mings, Joseph Hasscll, Chris- 
topher Temple, John Goold, Samuel Goold, John 
Lollendine, Christopher Reed. Thomas Lund, 

(1.) There are rocks in the river at the Falls of Amoskeag, in 
the cavities of which, tradition says, the Indians formerly stored 
and concealed their corn. 



SI- 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



25 



Daniel Yf aldo, Andrew Cook, Samuel Whiting, 
John Lovewell. John Acres, John Waldo, Wil- 
liam Beale, Samuel Beale, John Cummings, Rob- 
ert Usher, Henry Farwel!, Robert Proctor, Jo- 
seph Lovewell, John Lovewell, jr. The earliest 
compact settlements were made near the mouth 
of Salmon brook, between its mouth and the main 
road, and so down the Merrimac, upon the spots 
deserted by the Indians. 

The land which lay between Salmon brook and 
the Merrimac was called " The Neck," and for 
greater security the " housne-lotts " {house lots) 
of the first settlers v/ere laid out adjoining each 
other, and "within the neck." The lots which 
lay nearest Salmon brook ran from Salmon brook 
to the Merrimac, and v^ere generally from thirty 
to forty rods in width upon each stream. After 
the first six or eight lots, the west line of the lots 
was bounded upon '' Long Hill." In the rear of 
the school house in the Harbor districtjn Nashua, 
and the north and east edges of the Mill 
Pond, several cellar holes are still visible, and 
within a few years an ancient well was open. 
Apple trees are there standing, hollow, .splintered, 
covered v/ith moss and almost entirely decayed, 
bearing marks of very great antiquity. The ear- 
ly settlers came from the south eastern part of 
England, where cider and perry were manufac- 
tured in great quantities, and they brought with 
them the same tastes and habits. Orchards are 
spoken of in our town records as early as 1675, 
and these shattered relics of an age that is past 
may possibly have been the original stock, or at 
least their immediate descendants. 

About fifty rods north east of the school house, 
near a small cluster of oaks, stood the "Old 
Fort," or garrison, in which the inhabitants 
dwelt in seasons of imminent danger, and to 



:ie 



26 HISTORY OF 



which they often retired at night. There v/as a 
well in the fort which was open until within a 
few years. South of this spot, on the north bank 
of Salmon brook, and just in rear of the house of 
Miss AUds, were the houses of Eassell, Temple, 
and Perry, the cellar holes of which are still vis- 
ible. The field adjoining was owned by Perry, 
and is still known as the ^' Perry Field." 

After the Charter was obtained in 1673, the 
inhabitants increased rapidly. The proprietors 
made liberal grants to actual settlers, and upon 
the following conditions, v/hichhave been select- 
ed from their articles of agreement drawn up 
Oct. 15, 1673. 

"Every one yt(l.) is received (as an inhabitant,) shall 
have 10 acres for his person, and one acre more added 
thereto for every £20 estate, and none shall have above 30 
acres in yr house loua, nor none under 10 acres, and yt all 
after divisions of land yjiall be proportioned according to 
their home lotts, and so shall all yr public charges be, both 
as to church and lov/n. 

" All ye inhab-Jants yt are received into this town shall 
make improvements cf ye lotts yt they take np, by build- 
ing upon tliem, by fencing and by breaking up land, by tjie 
time prefixed by tiie General Court, \vh. is by Oct. 1676, 
and tlicy shall live, each inhabitant ni'on his own lott, or 
else ])nt aucU inhabitant upon it as the town accejtts, 

" To the ir.lent yt v/e may live in love and peace togeth- 
er we do agree, yt v. hatever fence we do make, either 
about cornfields, orchards or gardens, shall be a suflicient 
four rail fence, or yt v. Iiich is equivalent, whether hedge, 
ditch, or stone wall, or of }ogg:s, and if any person sustain 
damage through the deficiency of their own fences not 
being according to order, he shall bear his own damage. — 
And if any man's cattle be unruly he shall do his best en- 
deavour to restrain thcni from doing himself or his neigh- 
bour (any barm.)" 

These conditions, which evince much foresight, 
combined with the local advantages, were readi- 

(l.) I have preserved the original spelling, in which yr. yt^ ye. 
are v/rilten for tbeh, that, a.)id the. 



rrr ~ m 

NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 27 



ly accepted, for May 11th, 1674, a meeting was 
holden at "the house- of Lt. Joseph Wheeler," 
and a written agreement made between the pro- 
prietors and settlers. In this agreement it is pro- 
vided, that " the meeting house which is to be 
erected shall stand between Salmon brook and 
the house of Lt. Wheeler, as convenient as may 
be for the accommodation of both." As a meet- 
ing house in those perilous times, when men toil- 
ed and worshipped with their rifles by their side, 
would not be very likely to be erected beyond the 
settlement, we may reasonably suppose that the 
settlement at Salaion brook had already com- 
menced, and that at that date there were a con- 
siderable number of inhabitants. 






T 



CHAPTER ir. 



THE INDIAN WAR OF J675. 

In the s-ammor of 16T5 the war with Philip, 
the powerful aucl wily Sachem of tlie Wamnano- 
ags. commenced, which irii^olved nearly all the 
Indians in New England, It was not without a 
bitter struggle that the red men left their pleas- 
ant "valleys, wiiere they had roamed in child- 
hood, and where the bones of their fathers rested. 
Township after township had been occupied by 
the white men, and they had been crowded from 
their ancient hunting iields and fishing stations. 
At length they were surrounded by settlements, 
and mutual aggressions and heart-burnings en- 
sued. The red man and the white man could 
not longer live together, and the annihilation of 
one party or the other seemed the only alterna- 
tive. The Indians combined for a war of exter- 
minatioUj and all throughout New England were 
burning and massacre and devastation. Lan- 
caster, Groton and Chelmsford were destroyed, 
and hundreds killed or carried into captivity. 

At such a period, with a war of extermination 
raging all around them, the settlers of Dunstable 
were indeed in a perilous situation. Scarcely as 
yet were the forests cleared away, and their dwel- 
lings erected. Even their meeting-house was not 
yet finished. To increase their alarm, Wanna- 
iancet withdrew from Wamesit,and surprise mag- 



IB' 



29 



nified it into a proof of hostility. When the news 
of the first bloodshed came to Dunstablej in 
1675, '•^ seven Indians, belonging to Narragansett, 
Long Island and Pequod, who had been at work 
for seven weeks with one Mr. Jonathan Tyng, of 
Dunstable, on Merrimac river, hearing of the Avar, 
they reckoned with their master, and getting their 
wages, conveyed themselves away without his 
privity, and being afraid, marched secretly 
through the woods, designing to go to their own 
country. (1.) At Quaboag, (now Brookfield, 
Mass.,) however, they were discovered by some 
friendly Indians, arrested and sent to Boston, 
where they were confined for a considerable time, 
but nothing being proved against them, they wore 
at length, discharged." 

The settlers petitioned for relief from the Col- 
ony/i:i their distresses, and Capt. Samuel Mose- 
]y, just on his^march to the fight at Bloody Brook, 
thus writes : " Nasawok, alias Lancaster. August 
18, 1078. According to my orders from Maj. 
Gen. Denison, 1 sent to Dunstable eighteen men 
for to enlarge their^garrison, and to Chelmstbrd 
twelve men. and to Groton tvx^elve men." (2.)— 
This force was continued for their protection du- 
ring the whole of the year, and an attack pre- 
vented. 

Sept. 8, 1G75, instructions were given hy the 
Governor and. Council (3.) to Capt. Thomas BxRi- 
tie and Lt. Thomas llencliman, to take various 
measures for the better security of the settlement. 
They were ordered. 

First : To drait fiAy nifii and form garrisons at Dnnstable, 
Grotoi>, and Lancaster. 

(I.) Gookin's Praving Indian?. 2 Am. Antiq. Coll. 443. 
(2.) Original letu-r. ^ MiUtarij ReconU^, Mass. 1675. 
(3.) Military Records, Mass. 1675, pa^e 252. Gookin^2ZAm. 
Ant. Coll. 402. 



30 HISTORY OF 



W 



Second: To appoint a Guardian over the friendly Indians, 
at each of their towns, who shouKl oversee them, and 
prevent all difficulties or dangers which might occur up- 
on either side : 

Third: To "send a runner or two to Wannalancet, Sa- 
chem of Naamkeak, (1.) who had withtlrawn into the 
woods from fear," and to persuade him "to come in 
again " and live at Wamesit: 

Fourth: To inform the Indians at Penacook and Naticook 
that if they will live quietly and peaceably, they shall 
not be harmed by the English. 

These instructions were immediately and strict- 
ly obeyed. The garrison at Dunstable was 
strengthened, l.t. Henchman took charge of the 
Indians at Wamesit. Rnnners were sent out to 
Wannaiancet, but they did not prevail upon him 
to return until the close of the war the next sum- 
mer. Capt. Mosely, with his choice company of 
ojie luindred men, making Dunstable his place of 
rendezvous, marched up to Naticook and Pena- 
cook to disperse the hostile Indians v/ho were 
said to be gathered there for the purpose of mis- 
chief. " When the English drew nigh, v/hereof 
they had intelligence by scouts, they left their 
fort, and withdrew into the woods and swamps, 
where they had advantage and opportunity 
enough in ambushment to have slain many of 
the English soldiers, without any great harm to 
themselves, and several of the young Indians in- 
clined to it, but the Sachem, Wannalancet, by 
his authority and wisdom restrained his men, 
and suffered not an Indian to appear or shoot a 
gun. They were very near the English, and yet 
though they were provoked by the English, who 

(l.)Pa\vtucIcetfalls and vicinity. Amoskeag, properly Namaskeak, is 
the same word. It is said to mean 'Hhe great Jish'mgplacej" and was a 
favorite of the. Indians. The Merrimac received this name for some 
distance around the Falls, as it did other names at other places, or 
as is quaintly expressed by an hrdian in a letter of May 1CS5 to the 
Governor : " My place at Malamake River, called Fannukkog (Pen- 
acook,) and Natukhog (Naticook,) that river great many names." 
1 Belknap, appendix, 508. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 31 

burned their wigwams and destroyed some dried 
fish, yet not one gun was shot at any English- 
man." (1.) Wannalancet is said to have been 
restrained by the dying speech of Passaconaway, 
his father. 

The Indians who dwelt at Naticook (2.) were 
alarmed at their hostile movements, and gather- 
ing their corn hastily, prepared to leave their 
homes. This created new suspicion and alarm 
among the settlers, and nearly all of them de- 
serted the town, although companies of scouts 
were constantly traversing the wilderness for the 
protection of the frontiers. 

The winter of 1675 was a time of fear and of 
trial. Never had "the Indian enemy" been 
more active or dreaded. Even the " Christian 
Indians " had communications with their hostile 
brethren, and the whites began to suspect ihe7?i 
of treachery. The alarm increased to such a 
degree that every settler left Dunstable except 
Jonathan Tyng.(3.) With a resolution which is 
worthy of all praise, and of which we with diffi- 
culty conceive, he fortified his house; and al- 
though " obliged to' send to Boston for his food," 
sat himself down in the midst of his savage ene- 
mies, alone, in the wilderness, to defend his home. 
Deeming his position an important one for the 
defence of the frontiers, in Feb. 1676, he peti- 
tioned the Colony for aid. (4.) 

" The Petition of Jonathan Tyng Humbly sheweth: 

That yr Petitioner living in the uppermost house on 
Merrimac river, lying open to ye enemy, yet being so seat- 

(I.) Gookin, in 2 Am. Antiq. Coll. 463. 

(2.) The name given hy the Indians to the lands on both sides 
of the Merrimac, about Naticook brook and pond iu Merrimac and 
in Litchfield. 

(3.) Tyng's house probably stood not far from Wicasuck Falls, 
below Tyngsborough village. 

(4.) See original petition. Mass. Military Records, ]28. 



=a 



32 HISTORY OF 



ed that it is as it were a watch house to the neighbouring 
towns, from whence we can easily give them notice ot the 
approach of the enemy, and may also be of use to the ])ub- 
liqne in many respects ; also are near unto the place of the 
Indian's ffishing, from which in the season thereof they 
have great supjjiies, which I doubt not but we may be a 
great means of prev^enting them thereof; there being never 
an inhabitant left in the toun but myself: — 

WhereJbre your Petitioner doth hund)ly request that 
yom* Honors would be plet^sed to order him thi'ee or four 
men to help garrison his said house, which he l>as been at 
great charge to ffortify, and njay be of service to the pub- 
lique : your flivour therein shall further oblige me as in 
duty bound to pray for a blessing on your Councils, and 
remain Your lionorables' humble servant, 

JoxATHA^' Tyng."' 

Dunstable, Feb. 3, 1675-'6.(1.) 

This petition was granted immediately, and a 
guard of several men despatched to his relief, 
which remained during the war. This planta- 
tion was never deserted, and he thus became the 
earliest permanevt settler within the limits of 
Dunstable. 

February 25, lG7'5-'6, an attack^was made by 
the Indians upon Chelmsford, and several build- 
ings were burned. Colburn's garrison on the east 
side of the Merrimacwas strengthened, but near- 
ly all the outer settlements v\^ere deserted. A few 
days later, March 20, another attack was made, 
and Joseph Parker wounded. (2.) There was no 
surgeon in the vicinity, and an expressVwas sent 
to Boston to obtain one. The Council ordered 
Dr. David Middleton to repair forthwith lo 
Chelmsford, from whence he writes, "We expect 
the Indians to attack us every hour," and he asks 

(1.) Vv^hat was called Feb. 3, 1675, when the year ended in 
March, is F^eb. 3, 1G76 if we coni;idtT Uie year as ending in Decem- 
ber, and in order to designate this, all dates occnrrin2in thenionths 
of .Tanuary, February, or March, previous to A.D. 1751, are describ- 
ed in the above manner. The true date is Feb. 3, 1G76. 

(2.) He was a settler of Dunstable, and constable from 1C75 to 
1682. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



that troops may be sent for their defence without 
delay, lest they should be cut oil by the enemy. (1) 
Such is a specimen of life upon the frontiers dur- 
ing the heat of an Indian war. 

A small garrison had been maintained at Lieut. 
Henchman's house from August, 1075, but in 
April, 1676, for the greater security of the fron- 
tiers, the Governor and Council ordered a fort to 
be built at Pawtucket falls, (2.) which was im- 
mediately done, and placed under the command 
of Lieut. James Richardson. In May, 1676, an 
additional force was stationed at the fort, under 
the command of Capt. Henchman, on account of 
''intelligence of the approach of the enemy. '^ 
This was an effectual check to the incursions of 
the Indians ; and the death of Philip, which oc- 
curred soon after, (August, 1676,) with the de- 
struction of the greater part of his forces, put an 
end to the war. (3.) The settlers returned to 
their deserted homes, and the settlement received 
new hfe and vigor. 

The General Court still retained their guardi- 
anship of the Indians, and in the sunmier of 1676, 
ordered those "that relate to Wannalancet," or 
Pawtuckets, or Wamesits, to remove to a place 
"near Mr. Jonathan Tyng's, at Dunstable." 
This vv^as, perhaps, near Wicasuck falls and is- 
land, which were their property. Here they 
were.plp.ced, "with Mr. Tyng's consent, and un- 
der his inspection ^vhen at home, and in his ab- 
sence," says Gookin, " the care of them is un- 
der one Robert Parris, who is Mr. Tyng's vail." 
The whole number thus removed to Dunstable 
was about ten men and fifty women and chil- 

(1.) Mass. Mllita-i-y Records, 167G, page 1G3. 

(2.) Mass. Military Records, -page 211. 

(3.) 3 N. 11. Hist. Coll., 99—100. 1 Holmes' Annals, 429. 



S: 



34 HISTORY OF 



dren — " fifteen men and fifty women and chil- 
dren'' having been "removed elsewhere," to va- 
rious places, and " bound out to service." For 
Indians who had ever been so true and friendly 
to the English, this would seem to be no very 
grateful or even kindl]^ treatment. 

These v/cre Christian or "praying'' Indians, 
and Dunstable v/as one of the ^'- siv places ^^ at 
v/liich they had a church and religious teachers. 
Here, saj^s Gookin, one of their unvarying 
friends, who visited and comforted them, "they 
meet together to worship God, and keep the Sab- 
bath." (1.) Some of their teachers weie Indians, 
their own brethren, who had been educated by 
Eliot, and here their prayers and praises went 
up to the common Father of the red man and the 
white man, v/ho " hath made of one blood all na- 
tions of men for to dwell upon the face of the 
earth." Here, too, came Eliot, the noble "Apos- 
tle of the Indians," v/ho had been their teacher 
at Wamesit, and who did not desert them when 
they were scattered abroad. Where his feet have 
trodden and his prayers ascended, we may " call 
it holy ground." 

The treatment of the Indians by "our forefa- 
thers generally, and of Wanna lancet especially, 
was not Christian, and scarcely humane. They 
were ordered to move and remove at their v/ill, 
imprisoned on the most unfounded suspicions, 
their hunting fields taken away, their fishing pla- 
ces and corn-fields encroached on with impunity, 
yet Wannalancet remained friendly to the end. 
They seemed to consider the Indians as "chil- 
dren of the devil," and that they, like the Jews, 
were raised up to destroy them. Even in their 
Covenant of Faith, the same feeling exhibits it- 

(1.) Gookin' s Christian Indians. 2 Am. Ant. Coll., 525. 



^ 



NASHUA, Nashville, &c. 35 

self, since they promise " not to lay a stumbling 
block before any, 720, ?iol even the Indians. ^^ 

As a farther illustration of the spirit of those 
days, we quote the following from Dr. Increase 
Mather, the leading minister of the time. Speak- 
ing of " the ejjica-cy of prmjer^''^ he says : " Nor 
could they cease praying to the Lord against 
Philip, until they had prayed the bullet into his 
heart." Again he adds, "We have heard of 
twenty-two Indian c«;y^it"e5 slain together all of 
them, and brought down to hell in one day." (1.) 

A garrison was maintained at Mr. Tyng's, by 
a part of Oapt. Mosely's famous company, and 
at the expense of the Colony, until August, 1676. 
The General Court allowed him £100 (2.) for 
his disbursements, as he was "put to great ex- 
pense, being obliged to buy his food in Boston, 
and after the departure of the Indians in 1633, 
granted him Wicasuck island in payment there- 
for. (3.) They also granted him a considerable 
sum for damage done by the Indians during the 
war, and also to " Thomas Wheeler and son, the 
latter of whom was wounded." (4.) 

The war with the Narragansets was indeed end- 
ed, but the settlers had not escaped all danger or 
alarm. March 22, 1677, (5.) a party of Mo- 
hawks, always the enemy of the English, sud- 
denly appeared in Dunstable, at the mouth of the 
Souliegan. Their appearance is thus described 
in a letter from '• James Parker," at " Mr. Hinch- 

( I . ) Gookin's History of ike Praying Indians. 2 Am. Ant. Coll. 

(•2.) Pounds, shillings and pence were the currency of New Eng- 
la-nd until the Revolution, when the Dollar and our decimal curren- 
cy were adopted instead. The pound containing twenty shillings 
was worth $3.30 ; shillings and pence are still used in reckoning. 

(3.) Mass. M Hit arij Records, 1683. 

(4.) Mass. Milltarri Records, 1676, page 121. 

(5.) Holmes' A nnais, 429. 1 Belknap, SO. Allen's Chelmsford, lo5. 



» 



36 HISTORY OF 



manne's farme ner Meremack," and forwarded 
" to the Honred Govner and Council at Bostown, 

HASTj POST HAST." (I.) 

" Sagamore Wanalancet come tliis morning to informe 
me, and then went to Mr. Tyng's to informe him, that his 
SOD being one ye other sid of Meremack river over against 
Souhegan upon the 22 day of this instant, about tene of the 
Clock in the morning, he discovered 15 Indians on this sid 
the River, which he soposed to be Mohokes by ther spech. 
He called to them ; they answered, but he could not un- 
derstand ther spech ; and he having a conow ther in the 
river, he went to breck his conow that they might not have 
ani ues of it. In the mean lime they shot about thirty guns 
at him, and he being much frighted fled, and come home 
forthwith to Nahamcok, wher ther wigowames now stand." 

In consequence of this alarm a company of 
scouts, under Lt. James Richardson, (2.) trav- 
ersed the valley of the Merrimac during the whole 
season, to ward off any threatened attack. A 
garrison was also maintained at the expense of 
the Colony. But in September 1677 a party of 
French Mohawks from Quebec suddenly came to 
Naamkeak (near Pawtucket Falls,) with whom 
was said to be the brother of Wannalancet, and 
carried him with all his tribe to Canada. They 
did no damage to the English, however, although 
they had suffered so many provocations, and novv 
enjoyed such an opportunity for revenge, "being 
restrained as is supposed by Wannalancet." (3.) 

From this long catalogue of perils, alarms, and 
disasters, we may now turn to the civil affairs of 
the town, and to a period when peace brought 
with it its attendant blessings — security and pros- 
perity. The settler no longer feared an ambus- 
cade in every thicket, nor listened in the night 

(1.) 3 lY. H.Hist. Coll., 100. 

(2.) Mass. Military Records, 1677, page i>19. 

(3.) Gookin. 2 Am. Ant. Coll. 520. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 37 

watches for the prowHng footsteps of a foe. Eng- 
land and France, Charles II. and Louis XIV., 
were at war no longer. The " Treaty of Nime- 
guen,''(l.) strange though it be, was the protec- 
tion of Dunstable. The deserted cabin was again 
tenanted, the half cleared field was cleared and 
tilled, and new cabins sent up their smokes all 
along our rich intervals. 

(I.) Juiy 31, 1678. 



S: 



CHAPTER III. 



HISTORY FROM 1675 TO 1685. 

Town meetings were holden in Dunstable as 
early as 1675, and town officers were then chos- 
en, for in 1682 we find the town voting " yt Jo- 
seph Parker have 20 shillings allowed him for his 
seven years services as Constable." (1.) No re- 
cords, however, of any meeting are pres^erved of 
an earlier date than November 28, 1677. This 
was a meeting of the proprietors as well as of the 
settlers, and was holden at Woburn, at which 
place the meetings for the choice of own officers 
were held for many years, and occasionally as 
late as 1711. The record is as follows : (2.) 

" Nov. 28, 1677. At a Town meeting held at Woburn. 

"Capt. Thomas Brattle, Capt. (Elisha) Htitchinson, 
Capt. (James) Parker, Mr. Jonathan Tinge, and Abraham 
Parker were chosen Selectmen for the Town of Dunstable 
for the year ensuinge, and to stand as such till new be chos- 
en. (3.) 

'' It was also agreed n[)on and voted yt as soon as may 
be, a minister be settled in the town of Dunstable. The 
time and person to be left to the Selectmen ; his pay to be 
in money, or if in other pay the rate being to be made as 
money to add a third part more. 

(1.) The constable was the collector of taxes also, and the com- 
pensation for all his services was about fifty cents per year. 

(2.) For this and all other sinailar referei\ce3, examine Dunstable 
Records of the date affixed. 

(3.) Brattle was of Boston, Hutchinson of Woburn, James Par- 
ker of Groton, Tyng of Dunstable, and Ahraliam Parker of Chelms- 
ford. The latter resided soon after in this town, and is the ancestor 
of Edmund Parker, Esq. 

u . — _ ' — =m 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 39 



Lj ililVJii. liJl^X^j 



"Likewise 3 1 all public charges relating to the minister 
and other occasions is always to be levied upon allottments, 
and every man engages his accommodations, [pledges his 
farm,] to answer and perform the same. 

" It was also voted that the minister the first year shall 
have Jift\j pounds, [equal to about $300.00 now,] and the 
overplus of the ffarmes, and never to be abated." 



Then follows a vote extending the time for 
building a meeting house and settling a minister, 
\vhich was a condition of the grant in 1673, but 
which had not been complied with, for the space 
of three years longer, for the purpose of saving the 
forfeited rights of the settlers. They intended, 
nevertheless, to build at once, for it was " left 
with Mr. Jonathan Tyng, Capt. Parker and Abra- 
ham Parker to agree with John Lollendine, (who 
was the first house and mill wright in town,) to 
secure and finish said house," which had been 
commenced before the desertion of the settlement 
in 1675. 

Several persons were also '^ admitted as inhab- 
itants," and it was voted "yt the selectmen have 
power to add other inhabitants, provided that 
with the present they exceed not the number of 
eighty families." 

Before the Revolution of 1689, no person could 
vote or be elected to any office until he had been 
admitted a Freeman of the Commonwealth. This 
might be done by the General Assembly or the 
County Court, but only upon evidence of his be- 
ing a member in good standing of some Congre- 
galional Church. Before voting every person 
was required to take ^'the Freeman's Oath." 

This meeting house was finished in 1678, and 
was probably built of logs. The precise spot 
where it stood is not known, but probably it was 
not far distant from the settlement at Salmon 
brook. As the settlement increased a new meet- 



40 HISTORY OF 



ing house was erected near the old Bur^nng 
Ground in the south part of Nashua. In the 
Journal of a scout in 1724, it is said to have 
stood about 7iijie 'miles distant from Penichook 
pond. No other church, except those which suc- 
ceeded this upon the same spot, was erected in 
the southern part of New Hampshire for more 
than forty years, and its minister, like another 
John the Baptist, was " the voice of one crying in 
the wilderness.'' 

April 22, 1679, William Tyng, son of Jonathan 
Tyng, was born in this town. This is the first 
birth which is found upon the records of the town. 
April, 1680, Sarah, daughter of John LoHendine, 
was born. It is probable that other births occur- 
red at a much earlier date, since it is known that 
there were many inhabitants for years previous, 
and in 1680 " 30 families were settled there and 
a learned orthodox minister ordained among 
them."(l.) 

Before 1679, a lot of land upon Salmon brook 
was granted by the town, and known as ''•the 
mill lot^^^ and a saw mill erected. Where it stood 
is not known, but it is not improbable that it was 
on the spot where the "Webb Mill,'' near the 
house of J. Bowers, Esq., now stands, since it is 
known that a mill stood there at a very early p'e- 
riod, and it would probably be located as near 
the settlem.ent as possible. There v/as originally 
a beaver dam at that place, and it required but 
little labor to prepare the site for the mill. Many 
years ago a mill crank was dug up near the spot, 
which must have come from its ruins. 

As early as May 1, 1679, and perhaps before 
that time, Rev. Thomas Weld was employed here 

(1.) Petition in 2 Province Papers — Towns— 253, in office of N. 
H. Secretary of State. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, hC. 41 



as a minister. In the settlement of New Eng- 
land, religion was at the very foundation. The 
means of religious instruction ever kept pace with 
the spread of population, and " he who counted 
Religion as twelve, and the world as thirteen, had 
not the spirit of a true New England man.'* (I.) 
In the very charter, therefore, it was provided by 
the General Court, that the grantees were to 
"procure and maintain an able and orthodox 
minister amongst them." and to build a meeting 
house "within three years." This condition 
could not be complied with on account of Philip's 
War, which compelled them to desert the settle- 
ment, yet, as we have seen, at the first town 
meeting which was holden after its resettlement, 
x\\e first vote was for the choice of Selectmen, and 
the next a provision for the ministry and a place 
for public worship, the Selectmen just chosen be- 
ing appointed agents to carry the vote into effect. 
A " thirty acre right,''' as it was called, entitling 
the owner to about six hundred acres on the sub- 
sequent divisions of the common lands, was grant- 
ed for a " ministerial lot," as a farther encourage- 
ment to the ministry. Upon this Mr. Weld re- 
sided, and it is probably a part of the Fletcher 
farm now owned by John Little. 

As an illustration of the character and man- 
ners of the early inhabitants of the town, the laws 
of the Colony at this period, as an exponent of 
public opinion, form perh.aps the best criterion. 
In 1651, " dancing at weddings " was forbidden, 
and in 1660, " WilUani Walker vas imprisoned 
a month for courting a maid loithout the leave of 
Jier parefits^ In 1675, because ^' there is mani- 
fest pride appearing in our streets,''' the wearing 
of " long ha'ir or periiuigs,^^ and also " supersti- 
tious ribands,''^ used to tie up and decorate the 

(I.) HigginsorVs Election Sermon^ 1663. 



-Si 



42 HISTORY OF 



hair, were forbidden under severe penalties. — 
Men, loo, were forbidden to '"keep Christmas ^'^ 
because it was a Popish custom. In 1677 an act 
was passed to prevent ^^ the profaneiiess^' of 
'"'' turyiing the back tipon the public worship before 
it is finished, and the blessing pronounccd.^^ — 
Towns were directed to erect " a cage " near the 
meeting house, and in this all offenders against 
the sanctity of the Sabbath were confined. 

At the same time children were directed to be 
placed in a particular part of the meeting house, 
apart by themselves, and Tythingmen were or- 
dered to be chosen, whose duty it should be to 
take care of them. So strict were they in their 
observance of the Sabbath, that "John Ather- 
ton*'"(l.) a soldier of Col. Tyng's company, was 
fined by him '■^ forty shillings^'' for '■^wetting a 
piece of an old hat to put into his shoes,'''' which 
chafed his feet upon the march, and those who 
neglected to attend meeting for three months were 
publicly whipped. Even in Harvard College stu- 
dents were xohipped for grave offences in the 
chapel, in presence of students and Professors, 
and prayers were had before and after the inflic- 
tion of the punishment. As the settlers of Dun- 
stable are described in the Petition as "of sober 
and orderly conversation.'' we may suppose that 
these laws and customs were rigidly observed. 

We ought not to wonder at the seeming auster- 
ity of the Puritans : sfill less should we blame or 
ridicule, for to them does New England owe her 
peculiar elevation and privileges. Scouted at by 
the licentious courtiers, whether Episcopalian or 
Catholic, for their strictness and formality, nick- 
named "Crop-ears," ridiculed for their poverty 
and want of education, they naturally clung te- 
naciously to those pecuharities for which they 



(I.) He was of Lancaster, Mass. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 43 



had suffered, and prized them most dearly. As 
I naturally did they dislike all which savored of 
I the offensive worship or customs of their persecu- 
j tors, and strive sedulously to differ from them. 
I They would have no proud " Churches ^''^ for 
'^the Church of Christ is a /ir/??^' Temple," so 
in their plain, unsteepled, barn-like -'Meeting- 
Houses" they worshipped God with a prouder 
humility. The Establishment was the mystic 
"Babylon," and all its forms, rituals and tastes 
of course anti-Christian. No band or surplice 
added dignity to the niinisier, for he was but the 
equal, nay, the servant of all. Long hair or a 
wig was an abomination, and a crime against all 
laws human and divine. No sound of bells sum- 
moned them to worship, and no organ lifted their 
prayers and praises to Heaven upon the wings of 
music. They placed no shrub or flower over the 
graves of the dead, but instead the plain slab with 
quaint carving of death's head, or cross bones, 
or hourglass, and solemn inscription. All orna- 
ment was a vain show, and beauty a Delilah. 

They believed their wilderness homes to be 
"the New Jerusalem," and, taking the Bible as 
their standard, labored in all things outwardly 
and inwardly to be " a peculiar people." And 
they were so. They did really believe in God 
and religion, and they strove to practice what 
they believed at any sacrifice. The world has 
seen few such men, and it will be well for New 
England if she forget not the jn^incip/e^ the real, 
living Faith, which inspired and exalted the Pu- 
ritans. 

No records exist of any meeting from Novem- 
ber 1677, to April 1680, when Joseph Cummings, 
Jr., was chosen a Selectman in the place of Cap- 
tain Hutchinson; Joseph Parker, Jr., Constable; 
"Capt. Parker, Robert Paris, Joseph Parker and 



mz 



44 HISTORY OF 



John Lollendine a committee to assign lotts." At 
a subsequent meeting they also " chose these men 
to rim the Une between Groton and us." In the 
Spring of this year lands were improved upon 
the north side of the Nashua. 

June 14, 1681, "Jona. Blansher [Blanchard] 
and Thomas Lun [Lund] were chose fence few- 
ers [viewers,] and an order was passed command- 
ing all persons " to take care of &- yook yr. hogs 
on penilty of paing double damiges." 

In November 1680, a great comet appeared, at 
which, says Holmes, " the people were greatly 
surprised and terrified. "(1.) It continued to be 
visible until February. 1681, and was " the lar- 
gest that had ever been seen." So great and gen- 
eral was the alarm excited, that a '■^general 
fast'''' was appointed by the Governor and Coun- 
cil, and one reason assigned in the proclamation 
was, ^'' that awful ^ iiortentoiis^ blazing star ^ usu- 
ally foreboding some calamity to the beholders 
thereof.''^ This fast was observed with great 
strictness. We may smile at the ignorant and 
superstitious terror of even the dignitaries and 
wise men of the land in those days, but our smile 
must be checked a little when we remember the 
alarm excited in 1833, in our own community by 
a similar cause. 

Dec. 28, 1681, died Hon. Edward Tyng, aged 
81. Where he settled is unknown, but probably 
not far from the " Haunted House," so called, in 
Tyngsborough. He was born in Dunstable in 
England, in 1600, settled in Boston as a mer- 
chant, 1639, was Representative 1661 and 1662, 
Assistant from 1668 to 1681, and Colonel of the* 
Suffolk Regiment. It appears that he was elect- 
ed major general after Leverett, but it is not 

(I.) Holmes^ Annals, 451. 
« — .-. - -^ 



m=:: 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



45 



known that he served in that office. He remov- 
ed to Dunstable in 1679. 

He left sis: children :- — Jonai/ia7i, who settled 
in this town ; (see notice,) Edward, who was one 
of Sir Edmund Andros^s Council, 1687, and Gov- 
ernor of Annapolis; (see notice) ; Hannah^ who 
married Habijah Savage, (son of the celebrated 
Major Thomas Savage, commander in chief in 
Philip's war,) who afterward married Rev. Tho- 
mas Weld, and resided here ; Eunice^ wife of Rev. 
Samuel Willard, pastor of the old South Church, 
Boston, and Vice President of Harvard college ; 
Rebecca^ wife of Gov. Dudley; and another 
daughter who married a Searle. He was buried 
in the family tomb in Tyngsborough, and a mon- 
ument with an inscription points out the spot.(l.) 

In 1682, the inhabitants seem to have increased 
considerably, and the settlement to have acquired 
a firm footing. The records assume a new form, 
and become more numerous and town-like. — 
''Capt. Brattle, Capt. Parker, Mr. Tinge, Sar- 
geant John Cummings, and Robert Parris were 
chose Selectmen." Provision was made for the 
collection of taxes, by ordering that the allotments 
of such as neglect or refuse to pay their taxes, 
should "be sould at an outcry on the next public 
meeting day after such neglect or refus." Even 
at this early day there were some, to whom " re- 
ligion was as twelve and the world as thirteen," 
or even more. Trespasses were committed upon 
the common lands, and the town found it necessa- 
ry to order that '-every man that felleth any wood 
or tre in the comon shall pay Jiv shillings for 
such offence." The cattle, also, seem to have 
become equally unruly, for it was found necessa- 
ry to heighten their fences to a " saffisient Jive 
raile or equivalent." 

(1.) Farmer^s Genealogical Register, to which I am largely in- 
debted in this way. 



46 HISTORY OF 



May 8, 1682, " at a selectmen's meeting, it was 
ordered that the hogs of Dunstable of three months 
ould-and upward, be soficiently yoked and rung 
at or before the twentieth of the present month^ 
and John Ackers be appointed g.nd Imployed to 
pound, youke and Ringe such hogs; and for so do- 
ing it is ordered that the owner of every such hog 
shal pay to the said Swinyard twelv penc, and 
John Acres is appointed hoge constable tose this 
order exsicuted." So early was the necessity for 
this ancient and respectable office recognized by 
our wise forefathers, and the trust committed to 
one who was qualified to " El»[sictJTE " it. 

August 28, 1682, " Mine Islands " were laid 
out to Hesekiah Usher. (1.) The islands at the 
foot of "Mine Falls" had acquired this name 
already, on account of mines \vhich were sup- 
posed to, exist there. The rumor was that they 
had been long worked by the Indians, who ob- 
tained from them their supply of lead. The banks 
of the Nashua, Souhegan and the Merrimac had 
been carefully explored, and "Mr. Baden, an in- 
genious miner and assayer, was sent over to 
New England for this purpose. Lead ore was 
found, but not plenty, and so intermixed with 
rock and spar as to be not worth working." (2.) 

Usher was an original proprietor, a man of 
wealth and enterprize, and Uncle of John Usher, 
Lieutenant Governor of New Hampshire in 1692, 
He seems to have been a speculator, and to have 
imbibed the extravagant ideas then prevalent 

(I.) Usher was somewhat of a wit. The converted Indians were 
commonly called '' praying Indians," but Usher, having heard of 
some outrage said to have been committed by them, called them 
'''■preying Indians.'" 

In 1 035, he was hunting for mines, in Deerfield. — Mass. Records. 
4685, pageAS^. 

(2.) i Douglass' Summary, 103. 5 A". //. Hist. Coll. SS. Lead 
ore, containing a minute proportion of silver, has been discovered 
at Mine Falls by Dr. Jackson, in his geological survey of the Slate. 



.1^ 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 47 



-'M 



among that class of emigrants, respecting the 
great mineral wealth of New England. They 
had read of Mexico and Peru. They had listen- 
ed to the Indians as they told of " the Great Car- 
buncle," which dazzled the eyes of the beholder, 
upon the summit of the White or " Crystal Hills," 
where no human foot had ever trodden or dared 
to tread, and the Great Spirit had his home. Vis- 
ions of gold and silver, lying hidden in the bow- 
els of the hills in untold quantitieSj floated be- 
fore their distempered fancies by night and by 
d3.y. Every sparkling rock, every discolored 
spot of earth was to them an El Dorado, and such, 
without doubt, were our own 3Ime Islands m the 
eyes of Usher. 

He made excavations there, and found lead and 
iron, it is said, in small quantities, but the enter- 
prise proved a profitless one, and was abandoned. 
This was probably not long after they were grant- 
ed to him, as we find that May 15, 1686, Mason, 
the proprietor of New Hampshire, " farmed out 
to Hez. Usher, and his Heirs all the inines^ miji- 
cralsj and ores within the limits of New Hamp- 
shire, for the term of one thousand years, reserv- 
ing to himself one fourth of the 7'oyal ores, and 
o?ie seventeenth of all the baser metals." (1.) Of 
such a character and extent, however, were his 
explorations at these islands, that they were fa- 
miliarly called '■'•the Mlnes^^ in all letters, re- 
cords, and journals of scouting parties for half a 
century afterwards. (2.) 

Although this was a period of peace, and the 
Indians were committing no depredations, there 
was danger from roving and lav/less parties, and 

(I.) 1 Belknap 116. Royal ores were gold and silver. These 
■were reserved to the Crown. 

(2.) See original journals of F'airbanks, Blanchard, and others, 
1700 to 1725 in " Joicrnals of Scouts." Mass. Records. 

___ 



48 ■ HISTORY OF 



a small mounted guard was deemed expedient. 
Daniel Waldo and John Waldo were employed 
for this purpose. (I.) 

Dec. 3, 1682, the town " let out to goodman 
Akers to cut ten cords of wood for two shillings a 
cord, country yay, and Sargt. Cummings is to cart 
the same for two shillings a cord, same paye." 
This was probably for the minister, Mr, Weld, who 
was married not long previous, and from it we 
may learn something of prices in those days. — 
Corn was worth about iioo shillings per bushel in 
1683, and the relative price of labor and provis- 
ions was nearly the same as at present. 

At the same time a committee was appointed, 
consisting of John Parker, Robert Paris, and John 
Lollendine, to " lay out a Highway from Groton 
Meeting House to Dunstable Meeting House." 
The main river road, down the Merrimac, had 
been laid out long previously, and bridges built 
over the small streams. This road passed east- 
erly of the present road, crossing Salmon brook at 
the bridge near Miss Allds' house ; thence run- 
ning northerly near the old Allds' road below 
Judge Parker's house, and crossing the Nashua 
at afford way near its mouth, not far from the 
Concord railroad brido:e. 



*D' 



The Proprietorship of the Township was di- 
vided into " thirty acre rights," as they were 
termed, or house lots of that size, with the privi- 
lege of an equal share in all subsequent divisions 
of the common lands in the township. Of these 
there were about eighty, and the proportion of 
each such i^ight was about six hundred acres. — 
The market value of these lands at this period 
may be estimated from the fact, that the proprie- 

(1.) They were inhabitants of the town, and sons of Dea. Corne- 
lius Waldo, the ancestor of nearly all the Waldos in New England. 
Farmer's Genealogical Register. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 49 

tors, being indebted to Mr. Tyng in the sum of 
£23, (about $75.00,) they gave him three " thir- 
ty acre rights," or about 1800 acres, in full dis- 
charge of his claim. (1.) 

Of these proprietors, according to a certificate 
of the selectmen dated November 30, 1682, twen- 
ty-one persons resided out of town, in Boston, 
Salem, Marblehead, Cambridge, and Chelmsford, 
and fourteen in Dunstable ; viz. " Jon a. Tyng, 
widov/ Mary Tyng, John Cummings, senior, 
Thomas Cummings, John Blanchard, Abraham 
Parker, Joseph Wright, Samuel Warner, Joseph 
Parker, senior, John LoUendine, Obadiah Perry, 
Thomas Lund, Joseph Hassell, and John Acres." 
Most of the inhabitants were not proprietors. 

Oct. 9, 1682, " a 20 acre right " was granted to 
Rev. Mr. Weld as an additional encouragement 
to the ministry. At the same time ditax was im- 
posed of " twenty shillings in mony " upon ev- 
ery 30 acre right, "toward the building of a meet- 
ing house, which is to be built within one year 
after the date hereof, according to the dimensions 
of the meeting-house at Groton." A committee 
was chosen, also, to collect contributions for this 
purpose "of such as have fFaimes within the 
town," and " to agree with a purson orpursons 
for the doing of said Vv^ork." This meeting house, 
the second in town, was built probably in 1683, 
of a larger size and better finish, to accommodate 
the increasing wants of the inhabitants, and must 
have cost three or four hundred dollars. 

"Money," as specie was called at that day, 
was difiicult to be obtained as in all new settle- 
ments, and possessed a comparative value far su- 
perior to that of produce or "country pay." It 
is recorded that " Mr. Weld is not willing to ac- 

(l.) These rights include the greater part of the town of Tyiigs- 
borough, aud are still in the possession of the family. 



f ^ — = 

50 HISTORY OF 



cept of one third advance from those that pay him 
in money as proposed, but accepts to \\2i\Q double 
the sum' of such as pay not m money.' ^ 

" In 1683, Major Bulkley, (Hon. Peter Bulkley 
of Concord, one of of the Council,) Capt. Hutch- 
inson, Mr. Tinge, Jno. Blanchard, Sargeant Cum- 
mings, and Robert Parris were chosen selectmen 
for the year ensuinge. John Lollendine was 
chosen constable, Christopher Temple and Andro 
Cooke war chosen veioers offenses, Sam' 1 War- 
ner and John Cummings war choes Servaires of 
Hyways." 

The taxes upon each '' 30 acre right '" for the 
four years together, from 1679 to 1683, were 
about 36 shillings. 

John Cummings seems to have been town clerk 
for many years previous to 1700, although there 
is no record of any choice. For several years af- 
ter 1683 the town officers were nearly the same 
as in the years preceding, whose names have 
been recorded. Many of their posterity stsU 
dwell here, and it was thought it might not be 
uninteresting to know who in its days of weak- 
ness and peril and suffering vv^ere the " fathers of 
the town." 

We have seen how "zealously affected'' the 
proprietors of Dunstable were tovvard building a 
meeting house and settling a minister in 1677. — 
Religious motives, however, were not the only 
ones which actuated them, since their pecuniary 
interests were benefited thereby. By an agree- 
ment dated May 21, 16S4, setting forth their de- 
sire for the " increase and flourishing of said plaii- 
tation, one chief means U'hereof^ inider God, is 
the settling a ]yio?is and able mifiister thereof,'' 
they thereTore bound themselves to pay 15^. an- 
nually on each 30 acre right for this purpose, till 
the irihabitants can pay £50 per annum. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 51 

III the summer of 1685 the inhabitants were 
thrown into a new alarm by the suspicious move- 
ments of the Penacook Indians, and many retired 
to the garrisons. The alarm was soon, however, 
discovered to be unnecessary, the Penacooks 
tlieniselves fearing an attack from the Mohawks, 
and taking precautions against it.(l.) Such was 
the life of the early settler even in time of peace. 
The iu habitants generally lived in garrisons or 
fortified houses, and scouts were abroad constant- 
ly to detect the approach of the lurking foe. The 
farmer tilled his fields with his arms ready for 
self defence, and as the lonely wife heard the fre- 
quent story of massacre and captivity, her ear 
detected, with trembling apprehension, in ev- 
ery unusual sound, the footsteps of the ^' In- 
dian enemy." 

THE PILGEIM'S VISION, 

BY OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. 

[Recited at the Pilgrim Dinner at Plymouth, Dec. 22, 1845.] 

In the hour of twilight shadows, 

Tlie Puritan looked out — 
He thought of the " bloudy Salvages^' 

That lurked all round about, 
Of Wituwawmet's pictured knife 

And Pecksuot's whooping shout— 
For the baby's flesh was tender, 

Though his father's arms were stout. 

His home was a freezing cabin, 

Too bare for the liungry rat, 
Its roof was thatched with ragged grass. 

And bald enough of that ; 
The hole that served for casement 

Was glazed with an ancient hat, 
And the ice was gently thawing 

From tlie log whereon he sat. 

Along the dreary landscape 
His eyes went to and fro, 

7T7)TBelknap~lT5^ 



52 HISTORY OF 

The trees all clad in icicles, 

The streams that did not flow— 

A sudden thought flashed o'er him— 
A dream of long ago — 

He smote his leathern jerkin 
And murmured, "Even so!'' 

"Come hither, God-be-Gloriried, 

And sit upon my knee, 
Behold the dream unfolding. 

VVliereof 1 spake to thee 
By tlje winter's hearth in Leydef^ 

And on the stormy sea — 
True is tlie dream's beginning—^ 

So may its etiding be ! 

*' I saw in the naked forest 

Our scattered remnant cast, 
A screen of shivering branches 

Between them and the blast ', 
The snow was falling round them, 

The dying fell as fast ; 
1 looked to see them perish, 

When lo ! the vision passed< 

"Again mine eyes were opened. 

Tlie feeble had waxed strong; 
The babes had grown to sturdy n)eii. 

The remnant was a throng ; 
By shadowed lake and winding stream. 

And ail the shores along, 
The howling demons quaked to heav 

The Christian's godly song 

" They slept-— the village fathers— 

By river, lake and shore, 
When far adown the steep of time 

The vision rose once more ; 
I saw along the winter snow 

A spectral column pour, 
And high above their broken ranUs 

A tattered flag they bore. 

" Their Leader rode before thctn, 
Of bearing calm and high. 

The light of Heaven^s own kindling 
Throned in his awful eye ; 

These were a Nation's champions 



1 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



53 



Her dread appeal to try 5 
God for the right! I faltered. 
And !o ! the train passed by« 

" Once more— the strife was ended. 

The solemn issue tried, 
The Lord of Hosts, liis niig.hty arm 

Had helped our Israel's side. 
Gray stone and grassy hillock 

Told where her martyrs died. 
And peace was in her borders 

Of Victory's chosen bride 

" A cragh-^as when some swollen cloud 

Cracks o'er the tangled trees! 
With side to i>h\e, and spar to spar, 

Wiiose smoking d'^cks are these ? 
J know Saint George's blood-red croes, 

Thou IMistress of the Seas, 
But what is she whose streaming bars 

Roll out beibre the breeze ? 

" Ah, well her iron ribs arc knit, 

Whose tliunders try to quell 
The bellowing throats, the blazing lipg 

That pealed the Armada's knell ! 
The mist was cleared — a wreath of stars 

Rose o'er the crimsoned swell, 
And wavering from its haughty peak, 

The cross of England fell I 

*' O, trembling Faith ! though dark the morn. 

A l.eavenly torch is thine ; 
While feebler races molt away, 

And paler orbs decline. 
Still shall the fiery {)illar's ray 

Along thy pathway shine. 
To light t!ie chosen tribe that aougli' 

This Western Palestine ! 

" I see the living tide roll on, 

It crowns with flaming towers 
The icy capes of Labrador, 

The Spaniard's 'land of flowers I^ 
It streams beyond the splintered ridge 

That parts the Northern showers, 
Froni eastern rock to sunset wave 

The Continent is ours I" 



54 HISTORY OF 

He ceased— tie grim old Puritan — 

Then eoftly bent to cheer 
The pilgrim-child whose wasting face 

Was meekly turned to hear: 
And drew his toil worn sleeve across, 

To brush the manly tear 
From cheeks that never changed in wo. 

And never blanched in fear. 

The weary pilgrim slumbers^ 

His resting place unknown : 
His hands were crossed, his lids were closed; 

The dust was o'er him strown, 
The drilling soil, the mouldering leaf, 

Along the sod were blown, 
His mound has melted into earth. 

His memory lives alone < 

So let it live unfading, 

The memory of the dead, 
Long as the pale anemone 

Springs where their tears were shed. 
Or raining in the summer's wind 

In flakes of burning red. 
The wild rose sprinkles with its leaves 

The lurf where once they bled ! 

Yea when the frowning bulwarks 

That guard this holy strand 
Have sunk beneath the trampling surge. 

In beds of sparkling sand, 
While in the waste of ocean. 

One hoary rock shall stand. 
Be this its latest legend — 

Here was the Pilgrim's Land! 



m 



CHAPTER IV. 



HISTORY FROM 1685 TO THE DEATH OF REV. 
MR. WELD IN 1702. 

Up to this period Mr. Weld had been preaching 
here but had never been ordained. In 1684, how- 
ever, a new meeting house was erected, and hav- 
ing consented to settle, he was ordained, Decem- 
ber 16, 1685. At the same time a church was 
formed, consisting of seve?i msilf) members, viz. 
Jonathan Tyng, John Cummings, senior, John 
Bianchard, Cornelius Waldo, Samuel Warner, 
Obadiah Perry, and Samuel French. John 
Bianchard and Cornelius Waldo were chosen the 
first Deacons. 

The following is the Covenant which was 
adopted in the neighboring churches at that pe- 
riod, and which undoubtedly was adopted here. 
It is substantially the same as that Avhich was 
framed for the First Church in Salem, by the 
associated Churches of the Colony, in 1629, and 
promulgated by the General Assembly in 1680, 
for the use of the Colon y.(l.) 

" We covenant with our Lord and with one another, and 
we do bind ourselves in the presence of God, to vvaliv to- 
gether in ai! his ways according as he is i)ieased to reveal 
himself unto us, in his blessed word of truth, and do ex- 
plicitly profess to walk as followeth, through the power 
and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 



(l.) 3Tass. Assembly Records. 1680, pag-e 231. Allen's Chelms- 
ford, 103. 



K- 



«c 



n 



, —as 

56 HISTORY OF r 



" We avouch tiie Lord to be our God, and ourselves to 
be his peoj)le in the truth and siniphcity of our spirits. 

" We give ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ and the 
word of his grace for teaching, ruling and sanctifying of us 
in matters of worship and conversation, resolving to cleave 
unto him alone for life and glory, and to reject all contrary 
ways, canons, and constitutions of men in his worship. 

" We promise to walk with our brethren with all watch- 
fulness and tenderness, avoiding jealousies, suspicions, 
backbitings, censurings, provocations, secret risings of 
spirit against them; but \u all cases to follow the rule of 
our Lord Jesus Christ to bear and forbear, to give and for- 
give, as he hath taught us. 

■' In public or in private we will willingly do nothing to 
the offence of the church ; but will be willing to take ad- 
vice for ourselves and ours as occasion may be presented. 

" We will not in the congregation be forward either to 
shew our own gifts and parts in speaking, or scrupling, or 
there discover the weakness and failings of our brethren, 
but attend an orderly call thereto, know ing Ijow much the 
Lord may be dishonored, and his Gospel and the profes- 
sion of it slighted, by our distempers and weakness in 
public. 

" We bind ourselves to study the advancement of the 
Gospel in all truth and peace, both in regard to those that 
are within and without; no ways slighting our sister chur- 
ches, but using their counsels as need shall be ; not laying 
a stumbling block before any, no, not the Indians, whose 
good we desire to jjromote ; and so to converse that we 
may avoid the very appearance of evil. 

" We do hereby promise to carry ourselves in all lawful 
obedience to those that are over us in Church or Common- 
wealth, knowing how well pleasing it will be to the Lord, 
that they should have encouragement in their places, by 
our not grieving their spirits through our irregularities. 

" We resolve to approve ourselves to ti.e Lord in our 
particular callings, shunning idleness as the bane of any 
Slate, nor will we deal hardly or oppressively with any, 
wherein we are the Lord's stewards. 

" Promising also unto our best ability to teach our chil- 
<lren the knowledge of God, and of his holy will, that tjicy 
may serve him also ; and all this not by any strength of our 
own, but by the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood we desire 
may sprinkle this our Covenant made in his name." 

At this date there were but four churches and 
four ministers within the present limits of New 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. o7 

Hampshire. (1.) It was during this year that 
Cranfield, the royal Governor of this State, is- 
sued his arbitrary decree against the Congrega- 
tional Clergy, ordering their "dues to be with- 
held," and threatening them " with six months' 
imprisonment for not administering the sacra- 
ments according to the Church of England."— 
But this decree did not affect Dunstable, which 
was still supposed to lie within the bounds of 
Massachusetts. 

In 1686 the Indians at Wamesit and Naticook 
sold all the lands within the limits of Dunstable 
to Jonathan Tyng and others, together with all 
their possessions in this neighborhood, and nearly 
all of them removed from the vicinity. (2.) How 
much was paid for this purchase of Dunstable, or 
rather release of their claims, is unknown, but 
probably about £20, as we find that this sum was 
assessed upon the proprietors soon after, for the 
purpose of " paying for lands bought of the In- 
dians. "(^O 

In 1687 the town raised £1 125. 3d. towards 
our proportion of the expense of "building the 
great bridge " over the Concord river in Billerica. 
This was done by order of the General Assembly, 
and for many years afterwards, it was rebuilt 
and kept in repair from time to time, as occasion 
required, by the joint contributions of Dunstable, 
Dracut, Groton, Chelmsford, and Billerica, the 
towns more immediately benefited. 

May 21, 1688, " Samuel Goold is chosen dog 

WHIPPER FOR THE MEETING HOUSE." What WCl'C 

the duties of this functionary we are not inform- 



(I.) Portsmouth, Dover, Exeter, and Hampton, all organized in 
1G3S. 

(2.) Allen's Chelmsford, 151. i Belknap. 
(3.) Proprietary Records of Dunstable. 



tl' 



58 HISTORY OF 



edj except so far as is implied in the name. (1.) 
It stands alone without precedent or imitation. 
The choice is recorded with all gravity, among 
other dignitaries of the town, and the office was 
doubtless in those days a serious and real one, 
and no sinecure, unless we suspect our grave 
forefathers of a practical joke. 

In 1688 occurred the revolution in England 
which in December drove James II. from the 
throne and kingdom, and abolished forever the 
Catholic supremacy in that country. It was fol- 
lowed immediately by a revolution in New Eng- 
land. Sir Edmund Andros, the royal Governor, 
who had become exceedingly unpopular by his 
arbitrary measures, was deposed, and a popular 
government instituted upon the basis of the an- 
cient charters. This was done even before the 
news of the revolution in England had reached 
Boston. 

The different towns in the colony were invited 
to choose delegates to meet in convention at Bos- 
ton, and assume the government. This conven- 
tion met accordingly m May, 1689, almost every 
town being represented. Dunstable was among 
the number. In May, 1689, John Waldo was a 
delegate from this town ; in June, 16S9, Corne- 
lius Waldo; and in December, 1689, Robert Par- 
ris.(2.) This was a popular assertion of " ina- 
lienable rights," and a foreboding and precedent 
of the revolution of 1776. 

But the settlement was not destined to be al- 
ways so fortunate as it had been during the pre- 
ceding years. There had been occasional alarms 

(1.) That such an officer was a necessary one we may infer from 
the fact, that in Beverly a fine of sixpence was imposed on every 
person whose dog came into the Meeting house during divine ser- 
vice. Slone^s History of Beverly. 

(2.) Mass. Records, ioS9,pag-e 81. 89. 



--« 



NASHUA. NASHVILLE, &C. 59 



and trifling injuries, indeed, bat it was compara- 
tively a season of peace and quiet. Tn 1689, th<j 
war with the French, known as King Wil- 
liam'' s War^ broke out between France and Eng- 
land. It was occasioned by the Revolution, of 
which we have just spoken, (the French taking 
up arms for King James,) and lasted until 
1698. (1.) The French excited, by means of the 
Jesuits, nearly all the Indian tribes to arm 
against the English, and the history of the fron- 
tier during this period, the darkest and bloodiest 
in our annals, is but a succession of devastations 
and massacres. In these bloody scenes the Pea- 
acooks were not idle. Almost every settlement 
upon the frontiers was attacked, some of them 
repeatedly; and several hundred men, v/omen and 
children were either killed or carried into captiv- 
ity. 

The war was commenced by an attack upon 
Dover, June 28, 1689, in which Major Waldron 
and more than fifty others were killed or taken 
prisoners. (2.) It was a perfect surprise, as no 
warning of hostility had been given. An attack 
upon Dunstable, by the same party and at the 
same time, was plotted, but it was providentially 
discovered by two friendly Indians, who inform- 
ed Major Henchman, the commander of the fort 
at Pawtucket falls, of their intention. He arous- 
ed the settlement at once to a sense of their immi- 
nent danger, by the fearful news; "Julimatt 
fears that his chief will quickly be done at Dun- 
stable." (3.) 

^' Quickly V^ Hoy/ little do we appreciate the 
startling import of such a message ! With a foe 
to deal with who gave no alarm, even then the 
warning might be too late. Even then the attack 

( 1 . jT'Belhmp,''22ir^^'^'^^ — — '— - ^^.-.-^^^.^.^^^---.^-.^^^ -. 

(2.) 1 Belknap, 129. 

(3.) 1 N. H. Hist. Coll., 223. 



^ ■ ^== ■ -:==r:g 

60 HISTORY OF 

might be planned and the ambuscade laid. But 
Providence watched over them. 

The inhabitants retired to the garrisons which 
were fortified, and preparations for defence were 
made. A messenger was also despatched to warn 
Major Waldron of his danger, but he was detain- 
ed on the way and did not arrive until after the 
massacre. 

In consequence of this news, the Assembly 
ordered two parties of mounted troopers, consist- 
ing of twenty men each, to Dunstable and Lan- 
caster, " for the relief and succor of those places, 
and to scout about the heads of those towns and 
other places adjacent, to discover the enemies' 
motions, and to take, surprise, or destroy them as 
they shall have opportunity." (1.) July, 5, 1689, 
another company of 50 men was sent to Dunsta- 
ble and Lancaster as a reinforcement, and twen- 
ty men to Major Henchman at Pawtucket, as a 
guard for the settlers. 

The timely warning to Maj. Henchman proba- 
bly saved the settlement from a fate similar to 
that of the unfortunate Waldron, for in another 
letter of Maj. Henchman to the Governor and 
Council, dated July 12, 1689, (2) he says, after 
mentioning "the great and imminent danger we 
are in (at Chelmsford,) upon account of the ene- 
my, the town being threatened the next week to 
be assaulted." '"And also at Dunstable, on 
Thursday night last towards morning, appeared 
within view of Mr. Waldo's garrison /owr Indi- 
ans, who showed themselves as spies, and it is 
judged, (though not visible) that all the garrisons 
in said town were viewed by the enemy ; and 
that by reason thereof their cattle and other crea- 
tures were put into a strange affright. 



(1) Allen's Chelmsford, 149, 

(2) Mass. Af Hilary Records , 1689, page 56. 



-M 



IP- 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 61 



(C 



Wherefore, Honorable and Worshipful, I 
judge it highly needful and necessary that we 
have relief, and that speedily o( ahout iwe7i/i/ men 
or more for the repulsing the enemy and guard- 
ing some out places, which are considerable on 
each side Merrimac, as Messrs. Howard, Yar- 
num, Coburn, &c. (1) who must otherwise come 
in to us, and leave what they have to the enemy, 
or be exposed to the merciless cruelty of bloody 
and barbarous men. I have ordered of those 
troops which are made up of towns which are in 
danger, /or/y at a time, to be out upon scout until 
the latter end of next week, concerning whom I 
think it needful and necessary that they be then 
released to go home to guard the several towns 
they belong to." But imminent as was the dan- 
ger it passed away without attack, the Fort at 
Pawtucket Falls, the mounted scouts, the garri- 
sons, the precautions of the settlers, baffling all 
the wiles of the savages. 

In 1600 Christopher Reed was chosen Ty- 
thingma?i, the earliest records of the choice of 
such an officer in the town. 

During this year it is not known that any at- 
tack was made by the Indians upon this town, 
although they ravaged the settlements from Sal- 
mon Falls to Amesbury, burning a great number 
of houses , and killing and capturing nearly two 
hundred persons. (2.) Two companies of scouts, 
consisting of seventy men each, under the com- 
mand ofOapt. Thomas Chandler, and Lieut. 
Simon Davis, were ranging the wilderness con- 
stantly for the prevention of damage to the fron- 



(I.) Some of these were in Dunstable, (now Tyngfsborough,) and 
some in Chelmsford. 
(2) I Belknap 132, 141.* 



62 HISTORY OF 



m 



tiers. (1) But Nov. 29, 1690 a truce was agreed 
upon with them until the first of May, which was 
strictly observed, and the inhabitants passed the 
AVinter in security. 

In the summer of 1691 the war was renewed, 
and the Indian ravages recommenced. Small 
scouting parties attacked many of the neighbor- 
ing settlements. Like beasts of prey, they came 
Without warning, and retired without detection. 
On the evening of Sept. 2, 1691, they suddenly 
appeared in this town, and attacked the house of 
Joseph Hassell, senior. Hassell, his wife Anna 
Hassell. their son Benjamin Hassell, and Mary 
Marks, daughter of Patrick Marks, were slain.|(2) 
There is a tradition that Mary Marks was killed 
between the Hollis road and the canal about a 
quarter of a mile above the Nashua Corporation. 

They were all buried upon the little knoli 
where Hassell' s house stood, and a rough stone 
without inscription points out the spot. A second 
stone stood there until within a few years, hav- 
ing been preserved for so long a period as raised 
to the dead, but at length falling into the hands 
of a new proprietor, and standing in the way of 
his plough, it was taken up and thrown into the 
cellar by their side which is not yet quite filled up. 

On the morning of the 28th Sept. the Indians 
made another attempt, and killed Obadiah Perry 
and Christopher Temple. There is a rock in the 
channel of Nashua river now covered by the 
flowage of the water, about 30 rods above the up- 
per mill of the Nashua Corporation, which was 
called "Temple's Rock," and was reputed to be 

(1) Mass Mililary Records \(i90, pag-e 141. 

(2) HasseW's house stood on the north bank of Salmon Brook, on 
a small knoll just in rear of Miss Allds' house, where the cellar and 
grave stones may still be seen. 



^____ . _^ __ ___ — , 

} NASHUA, NASHVILLE, fcC. 63 

near the spot of his murder. It is said that they 
were also buried upon the spot just described. — 
Perry was one of the founders of the Church, and 
a son in law of Hassell. All of these are origi- 
nal settlers, active, useful and influential men, and 
all of them town officers, chosen but a few weeks 
previous. 

The actors in those scenes have passed away 
and even tradition has been forgotten. The only 
record wljich exists of the circumstances of the 
massacre, is the following scrap, noted down prob- 
ably by the Rev. Mr. Weld, not long after it oc- 
curred. 

" Anno Domini 1691. 

Joseph Hassell, seiiior, ^ were slain by our hidian 

A.xNA Hassell, his wife, > enemies on Sejit. 2nd in 

Benj'. Hassell, their son, ) the evening, 

Mary Marks, the daughter of Patrick Marks, was slain 
by the Indians also on Sept. 2nd. in the evening. 

Obadiah Perry and Christopher Temple dyed by 
the hand of our Indian enemies September the twenty 
eightli day, in the morning." 

At this time there were several garrisons in 
Dunstable, and a number of soldiers stationed 
there by tlie colony, as appears by a return of 
their condition which is as follows, "Dunstable 
town, seven men ; Mr Tyng's garrison, six men ; 
Nathaniel Howard's, three men; Edward Col- 
burn's, (probably at Holden's brook) four men ; 
and at Sargeant Varnuni's four men." These 
continued in the pay and service of the country 
until Nov. 17 1692, and perhaps still longer. (1) 

In June 1692, Mr Jonathan Tyng and Major 
Thotnas Henchman were representatives of Dun- 
stable. (2) With the exception of the years 

(1) Mass. Military Records, 1692 

(2) Mass. Legislative Records, IG92 pag-c 219. 



Wr- 



64 HISTORY OF 



1689 and 1692, no other mention is made of Rep- 
resentatives from this town for many years. At 
this time no one was allowed the right of suffrage 
who did not possess a freehold estate of the val- 
ue of forty shillings per annum, or personal prop- 
erty of the value of £ 20. 

In March 1694 a law was enacted by the Gen- 
eral Court, "that every settler v/ho deserted a 
town for fear of the Indians, should forfeit all his 
rights therein/' So general had the alarm become 
that this severe and unusual statute was neces- 
sary. Yet neither the statute, nor the natural 
courage of the settlers which had never quailed, 
was suiRcient to withstand the protracted and 
incessant peril which menaced Dunstable, and in 
1696 the Selectmen affirmed, that "near two 
thirds of the inhabitants have removed them- 
selves with their rateable estates out of the town." 
The town, harassed and poor, prayed an abate- 
ment of £ 50, part of their state tax, due by those 
who had left town, and this request was granted 
accordingly. (1) Troops were kept here for the 
protection of the settlers v/ho remained, and all 
the garrisons were placed under the supervision 
of Jonathan Tyng, who had previously been 
named in the Royal Charter as one of the Royal 
Council of the province. 

in consequence of this desertion of so large a 
portion of the inhabitants, the support of the min- 
istry became very burdensome. In June 1696 
the General Court granted "£ 30, for the support 
of the ministry at the Garrison in Dunstable for 
the year ensuing." (2) In June 1697, £ 20 were 

(I) 3Jass Assemblij Records 1696. 

(2.) Mass. Legislative Records, U3, 562,609. 

■afg — . . -^ 



s= 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 65 

allowed, and in 1698, £12 per annum for two 
years ensuing, and for the same purpose. 

In 1696 and 1697, Wannalancet, who had re- 
turned to Wamesit, was again placed under the 
care of Jonathan Tyng, and the General Court 
allowed £20 for *• keeping him."(l.) In June, 
1698, there was a garrison of eight men at Dun- 
stable, and a scouting party of forty men, one 
half of whom were ordered to scout from Dun- 
stable to Lancaster, and the other half from Dun- 
stable to Amesbury, constantly. (2.) 

The war lasted till 1698, when a treaty of 
peace was concluded between France and Eng- 
land, at Ryswick. Immediately after, a treaty 
was entered into with the Indians at Casco, and 
peace declared, which lasted until 1703. During 
the remainder of this war, there is no authentic 
record of any attack upon the inhabitants, al- 
though there were occasional alarms. At this 
time, and for fifty years after its settlement, Dun- 
stable was a frontier town, and during a greater 
portion of the time the country was involved in 
an Indian war. With nothing but a dense wil- 
derness between the " barbarous savages " and 
the inhabitants, they were constantly exposed to 
surprise and massacre. 

Dunstable must have been peculiarly fortunate 
to have escaped scatheless, while Dover, Ports- 
mouth, Exeter, Durham, Haverhill, Andover, 
Billerica, Lancaster, and Groton, upon both sides 
of us and even in the interior, were ravaged al- 
most yearly. This is not at all probable, and 
though most of the private and local history of 
that day is forgotten, we find vague hints in an- 
cient chronicles and records, and vaguer tradi- 
tions, nameless and dateless, which indicate that 

(2.) Mass. Military Records, 1698. 



^ 



66 HISTORY OF 



the story of the first half century of Dunstable, if 

ftdly told, would be a thrilling romance. I 

It is to the latter part of this war that we must | 

assign the capture of Joe English, a friendly In- \ 

dian who resided at Dunstable. He was a grand- j 

son of Masconnomet, sagamon of Agawam, (Ip- i 

swich, Mass.) and as such possessed no small [ 

note and influence. (1.) " He was much distin- I 

guished." says Bellaiap, "for his attachment to j 

the white inhabitants. In a preceding war (to j 

that of 1703,) he had been taken prisoner in the j 

vicinity of Dunstable, and carried to Canada, [ 

from whence, by his shrewdness and sagacity, he j 

effected his escape and returned to his friends at | 

Dunstable." ! 

ji Joe English w^as quite a hero in these regions i 

jj and in those days, and a hill in New Boston, ve- i 

li ry abrupt on one side, and a pond in Amherst, i 

il are still called by his name. A tradition is cur- ' 

jj rent that Joe was once pursued by an Indian on i 

this hill, and finding it impossible to escape olh- i 

erwise, lie allowed his pursuer to approach liini [ 

very closely, and then ran directly towards the I 

precipice, threw himself suddejily down upon a \ 

ledge with which he was familiar, while his pur- : 

suer, unable to arrest his course, and unconscious ; 

of danger, was dashed in pieces at the bottom, j 

Numerous other anecdotes are related of Joe, but | 

we will not repeat them, or vouch for their truth, j 

Tiie story of the capture and escape of Joe 
English is told at greater length by the compiler 
of " Indian Anecdotes." "A party of English 
were attacked by the Indians on Penichuck brook, 
in the north part of Dunstable, and were all kill- 
ed except four persons, one of whom was Joe 

(I.) I Belknap, 173, note. 



f- — — =-^ 

NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 67 

English, a friendly Indian, who had rendered him- 
self peculiarly serviceable to the English. Him 
they took prisoner and sent to Canada, where he 
pretended to be highly exasperated against the 
white men, and said he meant hereafter to be a 
good Indian ; that the whites had deceived him 
and he would not trust them in future. 

" After these professions of fidelity to their in- 
terests, he told them that if they would let him 
have the command of a party of Indians, he 
would go and surprise Deerfield, one of the fron- 
tier towns of Massachusetts. They accordingly 
furnished him with a party, and he soon com- 
menced his march. He also persuaded the In- 
dians to let one of the English prisoners accom- 
pany him. On their arrival at the mountains 
which surrounded Deer field, Joe told them that he 
was afraid that they had not provisions enough 
for the expedition, and that previous to the attack 
it would be better to hunt one day. To this the 
company assented. Joe told them they must go 
around the mountain, and drive the deer towards 
where they were, and that he and the English- 
man would remain where they were, and kill 
them as they approached. 

^ " Joe had purposely taken his station at a place 
where he could reach the town, and sent the In- 
dians around the mountain so that he knew he 
should not be interrupted in his attempt to join 
the English. The Indians having gone in pur- 
suance of his directions, he and his comrade fled 
to the settlement and apprised the inhabitants of 
Deerfield of their danger. The Indians soon dis- 
covered the deception of their commander, by the 
firing of guns and beating of drums which were 
heard from the town, and the attempt was aban- 
doned. 

He soon after returned to his duty as a soldier 



68 HISTORY OF 



at Dunstable, in which employment he took much 
pleasure, and felt no httle pride in the perform- 
ance of it. The Indians of course felt an invet- 
erate hostility against him, and determined upon 
securing him. They therefore waylaid all the 
places where they should be likely to take him, 
but still he escaped their stratagems." (1.) 

Whether this story be authentic or not I cannot ] 
say ; " I tell the tale as 'twas told to me." That 
he was captured, however, and that he escaped 
from captivity, we do know, but how or where 
no record discloses. It appears from a grant 
made by the General Court of Massachusetts, 
June 14, 1698, to "Joseph English an Indian es- 
caping from French Captivity," that he had just 
returned, and the sum of £6 was allowed him as 
a "recompense for his services" in " giving in- 
telligence of the motiqns of the enemy with in- 
tent to do mischief upon the frontiers at this 
time." (2) 

It was also during this war. in 1697, that the 
celebrated Mrs. Duston was captured at Have r- 
hill, and escaped by killing her captors, ten in 
number, at the mouth of the Contocook river in 
Concord, N. H. This was considered as one of 
the most remarkable and heroic exploits on re- 
cord. In her lonely wanderings down the Mer- 
rimac homeward, the first house she reached was 
that of old John Lovewell, father of " worthy 
Capt. Lovewell," which stood on the north side 
of Salmon brook a few feet north-east of the Allds 
bridge. The cellar is still visible. 

Although Dunstable suffered little during the 
war from actual injuries, yet the continual expo- 
sure to the tomahawk and scalping knife, and the 

( I . ) Indian Anecdotes, 161. 

(2.) Mass. Military Records, 169S Jovrnals, 590. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, <ScC. 



69 



frequent alarms prevented its growth. Such was 
its effect, indeed, that though as early as 1680 
there were thirty famiUes or more in the town, in 
1701 the number did not exceed twenty-five fam- 
ilies.(l.) The settlement had more than once 
been nearly deserted, and very few improvements 
Avere made. A saw mill had been erected at the 
earliest settlement, and others followed at " Mine 
Falls " and on Salmon brook, but no grist mill 
had been built, the inhabitants resorting to 
Chelmsford. In 1695, Daniel Waldo set up a 
grist mill at the mouth of Stony Brook, several 
miles down the Merrimac, and was " to grind the 
corn and malt of the inhabitants of Chelmsford, 
except on the fourth day of each week which is ap- 
propriated to the use of DunstahleP He agreed 
to grind "according to turn as much as 
be."'" 



•(2.) 



may 



Oct. 4, 1697, every inhabitant was ordered '^ to 
bring half a cord of wood to Mr. Weld by the 
first of November, or forfeit ^z^e shillings for each 
neglect." This was in addition to his salary. 

As silver was then worth ten shillings an ounce, 
five shillings would be equal to half an ounce of 
silver, or 50 cents of our currency. This would 
make the value of wood about a dollar a cord. 

In 1698 the town joined with other towns in 
rebuildino: Billerica bridare, and raised for that 



purpose and other town expenses, £6 7s. Of 
course it could not have been a very splendid or 
expensive structure. 

June 29, 1699, it was voted that John Lollen- 
dine "build a sufficient cross bridge over Salmon 



(1.) Petilion llfOl supra. 
(2.) Allen's Chelmsford, 30. 



70 HISTORY OF 



brook, near Mr. Thos. Clark's ftarin house, pro- 
vided that the cost thereof do not exceed the sum 
of FORTY SHILLINGS." The towii was to pay one 
half and Mr. Clark the other. The bridge was 
to be warranted " to stand a twelvemonth, and if 
the water carry it away, he is to rebuild it at his 
own cost." 

In 1699 the '' woodrate " was increased, and 
assessed according to the ability of the inhabi- 
tants, who were required to furnish him nineteen 
cords. The '' minister rate " assessed upon the 
proprietors of Dunstable, including inhabitants, 
was £17 25. 2d. (perhaps $50.00,) and was prob- 
ably the amount of his salary. 

It is a singular and instructive fact, and one 
that might lead to useful reflections, that Mr. 
Weld was assessed, like any other inhabitant, 
both to the wood-rate and minister's rate, — to the 
former one cord and to the latter eleven shillings. 
I had supposed that the respect paid the pastor 
in those days was so great, as to exempt him 
from all such burdens, but it seems that the prin- 
ciple of equality was carried into rigorous prac- 
tice. Nor did the ''minister" receive any title 
except that of Mr., not even that of ite^^, for this 
was an "innovation of vanity " upon puritan 
simplicity, of a much later date. D. D. and S. 
T. D., and such like, are quite of modern intro- 
duction. It should be remembered, however, 
that even the title Mr. was not in 1699 applied 
to " common people." 

The following is a list of all the inhabitants 
who were heads of families and contributed to 
the woodrate in 1699. The number of inhabi- 
tants did not probably exceed 125. 



J 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



71 



■ Maj. Jonathan Tyng, 
Mr. Thomas Weld, 
Robert Parris, 
Nathaniel Blanch ard, 
Joseph Blanchard, 
Thomas Cummings, 
Thomas Blanchard, 
Mr. Samuel Searle, 
Samuel Ffrench, 
Tho's Lunn, [Lund,] 



John Lollendme, 
Robert Usher, 
Nath'l Cummings, 
Abraham Cummings, 
John Cummings, 
John Love well, 
Joseph Hassell, 
Mr. Samuel Whiting^ 
William Harwood, 
Daniel Galeusha." 



In 



1700, the town voted that they would 
" glaze the meeting hoiise,'^ which was done ac- 
cordingly, at a cost of XI Is. QcL- Probably it 
had never been glazed before, and from this we 
may learn the narrow means of the settlers, and 
how different were the rude houses in which they 
worshipped from the costly edifices which now 
occupy their places. The windows could have 
been neither very large nor very numerous. 

In 1701, the selectmen of the town prayed the 
General Court for further assistance in the sup- 
port of the ministry, and set forth, as was custo- 
mary, their condition and sufferings, at considera- 
ble length. As showing the situation of the town 
at this period, and the customs of the times, the 
petition is inserted entire. (1.) 

" To his Majesty's most Honorable Council and Repre- 
sentatives in the Great and General Court now assembled 
in Boston by adjournment. 

The Petition of the Selectmen of Dunstable in behalf of 
the inhabitants there settled, Humbly Sheweth : — that 
whereas the wise God, (who settleth the bounds of all om* 
Habitations,) hath disposed oms, but an handful of his peo- 
ple, not exceeding the number o^ twenty-five families, in an 
outside plantation of thts wilderness, which was tnuch de- 
populated in the late war, and two third parts of them, 



(I.) Mass. Ecclesiastical Records^ 1701. 



S=:::i 



72 HISTORY OF 

though living upon husbandry, yet being but new begin- 
ners, and their crop^s of grain much failing of wonted in- 
erease, are in such low circunistances, as to be necessitat- 
ed to buy their bread corn out of town for the support of 
their own families, whence it comes to pass that they are 
capable of doing very little or nothing towards the main- 
tenance of a minister here settled: and our Non-resident 
Proprietors being far dispersed asunder, some in England, 
and some in several ren>ote places of this country, and 
making no improvement of their interest here, most of them 
for divers years past have afforded nothing of assistance to 
us in so pious a work ;^ there having also in some years 
past been some considerable allowances for our help here- 
in out of the Public Treasury, (for which we return our 
thankful acknowledgments,) the continuance whereof was 
never more needful than at this time: 

These things being duly considered we think it needful 
hereby to apply ourselves to your Honors, lltmibly to re^ 
quest the grant of such an annual Pension out of the Coun- 
try Treasury, for the support of the ministry in this place, 
as to yourselves may seem most needful, until our better 
circumstances may render the same needless. 

Moreover having been lately informed, by a Re|)resenta- 
tive from a neighboring town, that Dunstable's proportion 
in the Country rate newly emitted was £<5, coming from 
the multiplication of 205. six times, but finding by the print- 
ed paper lately come to us that we, the smallest loicn in the 
Province, are assessed .£9, being £3 beyond Stow which 
we deem in respect of the number of inhabitants may ex- 
ceed us at least one third )»art: We humbly hereupon de- 
sire that the original assessment may be revised, and if 
there be any mistake found in the proportion assigned to 
us, (as we judge there may l>e,)that it may be rectified ; and 
we shall remain your Honors' Huirible Servants, 

ever to pray for you. 

Josej)h Farwell, 
Robert Parris, 
William Tvng." 

Dunstable, Jufy 28. 1701. 

In answer to this petition the sum of £12 was 
allowed from the Treasury in September, 1701. 

June 9, 1702, died Rev. Thomas Weld, lirst 
minister of the town, aged 50 years. A tradition 
has long been current that he was killed by the 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE. &:C. 73 



Indians in an attack upon his garrison. (I.) But 
this must be a mistake, for "In the year 1702," 
s^ys Penhallow, Avho lived at this time and wrote 
the history of the war, " the whole body of the 
Indians were in a tolerable good frame and tem- 
per," and there is no mention of any attack until 
August, 1703.(2.) 

Mr. Weld was a native of Roxbury, Mass., and 
grandson of Rev. Thomas Weld, the first minister 
of Roxbury, who came from England in 1632, 
and was one of the most distinguished among the 
eminent men of that day. He was one of the 
three who made tht^. famous first "' translation of 
the Psalms into metre for the use of the churches 
of New England," which has been the occasion 
of no little merriment ; the translators being se- 
lected, not because they possessed any poetic ge- 
nius whatever, but becaustj they were the " most 
pious and godly men." 

Mr. Weld graduated at Harvard College in 
1671, and probably studied divinity with his un- 
cle, Rev. Samuel Danforth, a celebrated minister, 
and came to Dunstable in 1678 or 1679, Nov. 9, 
1681, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. 
John Wilson, of Medfield, son of the first minis- 
ter of Boston, and both of them very eminent men. 
She died Jnly 29, 1G87, aged 31, and is buried in 
the old burying ground near the southerly line of 
Nashua, v/here a large horizontal slab of granite 
records her death. Some years afterwards he 
married widow Hannah Savage, daughter of Hon. 
Edward Tyng, who was admitted an inhabitant 
in 1677. She survived him many years, and died 



(I.) N. H. Gazeicer. Dun&tabie. 

(2.) Pcnkallow's Indian War. 1 A'. //. HisL Coll. 20, 23. 



74 HISTORY OF 



I 

I 



at the house of their son, Rev. Habijah Weld, m 
Aitleborough, Mass., in 1731.(1.) 

But Utile is known respecting the character of 
Mr. Weld. He was much beloved by his people, 
and is said by Farmer to have been a distinguish- 
ed man. (2.) Alden says that Mr. Weld "was 
esteemed in his day a man of great piety, an ex- 
emplary Christian, and a very respectable clergy- 
man." (3.) He is supposed to be the author of 
the verses in Mather's Magnolia, upon the death 
of his uncle, Rev. Samuel Danforth, who died in 
1674.(4.) He is buried beside his wife, and over 
his grave is a granite slab similar to that of his 
wife, but without any inscription. 

(1.) N. H. Hislm-ical Collections, 57—64. Farmer^s Genealojsri- 
cal Register. Alden's Epitaph : Dr. Alden was a descendant of Mr, 
Weld. 

(2.) Historical Catechism. 

(3.) Alden's Collections, 111. 

(4.) Mather'' s Magnolia 



CHAPTER V. 



INDIAN WARS FROM 1703 TO 1713. 



Ill the siuuiuer of 1702, it was proposed by the 
General Court to build a trading house for the 
Indians, and a fortified garrison "at Waiaa- 
nnck^'\\.) as the settlement at Salmon brook was 
then called, but owing to the lateness of the sea- 
son the intention was not accomplished. 

Oct. 24, 1702. Governor Dudley informed the 
House that iie was going to Dunstable on Mon- 
day, to meet several of the Penacook Indians 
there, '' who were come down to speak with 
him.'' He was absent until Oct. 29th., but the 
results of his interview, whatever they might be, 
did not allay the fears of the General Court, Be- 
lieving from the movements of the Indians that 
preparations for the defence of the frontiers should 
be made, they passed (he following order : (2.) 

"November U), 1702. The winter being too 
far advanced for the erecting of a trading house 
for the supply of the Indians at Penacook, and 
for fortifying the garrison at Wataanuck in the 
county of Middlesex — Resolved, that a conve- 
nient house next adjoining thereto, such as his 

(1.) This name, or rallier Watana'nuck, was the one given by the 
Indians to the Falls in the Meirimac, near " Taylor's Falls Bridge ;" 
to the little pond in Hudson about a mile easterly of these Falls; to 
Salmon brook and Sandy pond; and to the v/hole plain upon which 
Nashua Village in Nashua now sdaads. It is the same word as 
Outanic. 

(2.) Military Records, 1702, pct^e 336. 



76 HISTORY OF 



j Excellency shall direct, be fitted up and fortified 
j for that purpose with hewn timber and a suitable 
j garrison posted there for the defence thereof; the 
; fortification not to exceed forty feet square." 

This was probably the old fort, or " Queen's 
I Garrison, "(I.) as it was called, which stood about 
I sixty rods easterly of Main street, in Nashua, and 
I about as far northerly of Salmon brook, near a 
! cluster of oaks. Some traces of the fort were to 
j be seen until within a few years. Here a small 
I garrison was posted, as appears by the following 
I return to the Governor and Council, dated Dec. 
' 25, 1702, which contains the list of the soldiers 
! then at the garrison. (2.) 

'^ William Tyng, Lieutenant; John Bowers. 

i Sergeant; Joseph Butterfield, Drummer: John 

i Spalding, John Cummin gs, Joseph Hassell, Ebe- 

nezer Spalding, Daniel Galusha, Paul Fletcher. 

Samuel French, Thomas Lund.'* 

" Jonathan Tyng, Lt. Colonel." 

' In 1703 war ^vas renewed between France and 

England. It lasted until 1713, and was called 

^' Queen Anne's War." The Indians, as usual, 

took part with the French, and in August 1703 a 

general attack was made upon all the frontier 

settlements. Terror and devastation reigned ev- 

, ery where. Within a fevv^ weeks more than two 

; hundred whites were either killed or captured. — 

The General Assembly being sensibly affected by 

i these massacres, offered a bounty of £40 for every 

! Indian scalp. " Captain Tyng was the first who 

' embraced the tender. He went in the depth of 

winter, (1703-4.) to their head quarters, [at Pe- 



(1.) Queen Anne. 

(2.) Mass. Military Records. 1702, 

% ■ ^ 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 77 

quawkeltj and got Jive, for which he received 
two hundred pounds. ^\\.) 

He afterwards became a Major, and it is said 
'^ vras a true lover of his country, and very often 
distinguished himself as a gentleman of good val- 
or and conduct.''(2.) The Indians did not for- 
get the slaughter of their friends, or their nation- 
al law of blood for blood, although its execution 
might be long delayed. In 1710 he was waylaid 
by them between Concord and Groton, and so 
severely v/ounded that he soon after died. (3.) 

It was probably soon after the commencement 
of this war that the garrison of Robert Parris was 
surprised, and himself and family massacred.— 
He lived in the southerly part of Nashua, on the 
Main road, on the farm which adjoined that of 
Rev. Mr. Weld on the north. (4.) He was a large 
landed proprietor, and had been selectman and 
representative of the town. "The Indians in one 
of their predatory excursions attacked his house, 
and killed him, his wife, and oldest daughter. — 
Two small girls who composed the rest of his 
family, ran down cellar, and crawled under an 
empty hogshead. The savages plundered the 
house, struck with their tomahawks upon the 
hogshead, but neglected to examine it, and de- 
parted leaving the house unburned, probably 
fearing that the flames v.^ould alarm the neigh- 
bors. The orphan girls were sent to Charlestown, 
Mass., and there broughiiip. One of them mar- 
ried a Richardson, and the other a Goffe, father 
of the celebrated Col. Goffe, whose posterity are 
numerous in this vicinity.' '(5.) 

(I.) Penhallow. 1 A^. H. Hist. Coll. 27. This wasCapt. John 
Tyng, eldest son of Col. Jonathan Tyng of this town. 
(2.) PenhalloiD. 1 iV. H. Hist. Coll. GO. 
(3.) Allen's Chelmsford, 35. 
(4.) Proprietary Records of Duvstahle. 
(5.) 2 Farmer 4* Moore's Historical Collections, 306. Parris is 



78 



HISTORY OF 



In March. 1704 the town was again compelled 
to seek aid from the Colonial Treasury for the 
support of the ministry, and for defence against 
their enemy, and presented the following moving 
petition. Upon the consideration of the petition 
tiie sum of £20 was granted to the town for these 
purposes.(l.) 

" To tlie General Court in teshion, S March 1703.(2.) 
The most humble Petition of the inhabitants of tlje Town 
of Dunstable in the County of Middlesex, Slieivdh : 

That wiicreas 30ur distressed Petitioners, through tiic 
calamities of the several Indian rebellions and depredations, 
are much reduced in our estates, and lessened in our nmn- 
bcrs, (notwithstanding the addition of many desirable fam- 
ilies when there was a |)rospecl of a settled peace,) so that 
we are not capable wholiy to suppoit the ministry of the 
Gospel, after which Ark of God's presence our souls la- 
ment, and the want of which, more than all other great 
hardships, and hazards, doth discourage us, and threaten^ 
the rUin of this desirable plantation, but the enjoyment of 
such a rich merry will aninjale us still to stand, (as we 
have long done,) in the front of danger : 

'* Inasmuch also as his Excellency, in iiis great wisdom 
and providence for the security of this eminently frontier 
])lace, and of this part of the Provincs so mucli exposed to 
the invasion of the bloody salvages, hath been i)leascd to 
post a considerable force of soldiers here, the great advan- 
tage whereof hath been ex[)erienced in these parts, but they 
can never hear a sermon w ithout travelling more tlian 
twelve miles froni their principal i)Ost, which is to them no 
small discouragement: (3.) 

'•We are therefore hunjbly bold to lay before the wise 
and compassionate cont^idenilion of th-s Great and Gener- 
al Assembly the sorrowful circumstances of her Majesty's 
good subjects in said town, and; do most Innnbly im[)lore 
that such a su|)ply may be ordered, out of the Treasury of 



not improbably the same name as Pierce, since, January 8, 1702, wc 
liud recorded "the marriage of "Jane Pierce, alias Parrib. ■"—Ybifn 



not 

111 
Records, 

(1.) Mass. Eixlcsiasiical Rtcords, \70i,page 191. 

(2.) This was Sdi. March, 1703-4. or 1704. 

(o'.) This garrison was at Salmon brook, and the nearest meeting 
house, (except in town,) was at Chelmsford, then twelve miles dis- 
tant. 



^- 



jfe 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



79 



the Province, towards the support of the irsinistry in Dun- 
stable, as to your great wisdom and candor shall appear 
meet, we being found, (as we are in duty bound,) to contri- 
bute to such a service for our souls to the uttermost of our 
ability, and much beyond the proportion of others in greater 
congregations for the ordinances of God's worship among 
themselves ; — And your poor Petitioners are the more en- 
couraged thus to pray in hope, 'since their former applica- 
tions of this kind have ever been compassionately regarded 
and bountifully answered by former Great and General 
Assemblies of this Province." 

" Your obedient and humble servants. 

Samuel Whiting, ^ Selectmen 
William Tyng, > in behalf of 

Joseph Blanchard, ) of the Town." 

In 1704 a block house was erected somewhere 
in town by Col. Tyng, by the direction and at the 
expense of the colony, but the place of its loca- 
tion is not designated. (1.) 

It may be a matter of some interest and curios- 
ity, as illustrating the manners and customs of 
the times, to insert the following account of the 
expenses of the funeral of James Blanchard, who 
died in 1704. He was a farmer in tolerable cir- 
cumstances. 

" Paid for a winding sheet, 
Paid for a coffin, 
Paid for digging grave, 
Paid for the use of the pall. 
Paid for gloves, (to distribute at 

the funeral,) 
Paid for wine, segars, and spice, 

(at the funeral,) 
Paid to the Doctor, 



£0— 


-185 


.— 


-Od 


0" 


10 


Cl 





0'' 


7 


li 


6 


0" 


5 


a 






I'' 1 '' 



ii 



0"14 
Paid for attendance, expenses,&c. 1 '' 17 



£6 '' ly " 5 



^r- 



(1.) Mass. Military Records, 1704. 



80 HISTORY OF 

In January 1706, " the trading house at Wata- 
anuck in Dunstable, being now useless, ihey [the 
House of Representatives,] were not willing to 
conlinne to support a garrison there. To which 
his Excellency returned answer, that he made no 
further use thereof than as a convenient post for 
lodging some of the persons being under pay and 
at hand for the relief of Groton and the near parts 
upon an attack, and for scouting, and not as a 
fortress or garrison. "(I.) From this circum- 
stance, at this time probably little danger was 
anticipated. 

In April 1706 the sum of £10 was granted, by 
the General Assembly, to Samuel Butterfield who 
had been " taken captive by the Indians, cruelly 
treated, and stripped of all. having killed one of 
them, and knocked down two others, after they 
had seized him. "(2.) No hint is given of the time 
or place of capture. 

Early in the summer of 1706, Col. Schuyler of 
Albany gave notice to Governor Dudley of New 
Hampshire, that a party of Mohav/ks, 270 in 
number, were marching to attack Piscataqua. — 
''Their first descent was at Dunstable, July 3, 
1706, where they fell on a iiousethat had twenty 
troopers posted in it, who by their negligence and 
folly, keeping no watch, suffered them to enter, 
which tended to the destruction of one half their 
number.''(3.) This was, it is said, at " theAYeld 
garrison.'- 

A more particular account of this attack has 
been preserved, which is as follows. These troop- 
ers, who were mounted scouts, " had been rang- 

(l.) Mass. Military Records, 1706. 
(2.) Mass. Military Records, 17UG. 
(3.) Penhallow. 1 A'. //. Hist. Coll., 48, 49. 

y ■==m 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, kC. Si 



ing the woods in the vicinity, and came towards 
night to this garrison. Apprehending no danger, 
they turned their horses loose upon the interval, 
piled their arms and harness in the house, and 
began a carousal to exhilarate their spirits after 
the fatigues of the day. A party of Indians had 
lately arrived in the vicinity, and on that day had 
designed to attack both Weld's and Galusha's 
garrisons. One of their number had been sta- 
tioned to watch each of these garrisons, to see 
that no assistance approached and no alarm was 
given. A short time previous to the approach of 
the cavalry the Indian stationed at Weld's had 
retired to his party, and reported that all was 
safe. 

" At sunset a Mr. Cummin2:s and his wife went 
out to milk their cows, and left the gate open, — 
The Indians who had advanced undiscovered, 
started up, shot Mrs, Cummings dead upon the 
spot, and wounded her husband. They then 
rushed through the open gate into the house with 
all the horrible yells of conquering savages, but 
started with amazement on finding the room filled 
with soldiers merrily feasting. Both parties were 
completely amazed, and neither acted with much 
propriety. The soldiers, so suddenly interrupted 
in their jovial entertainment, found themselves 
called to fight when entirely destitute of arms, 
and incapable of obtaining them. 

" The greater part were panic struck and una- 
ble to fight or fly. Fortunately all were not in 
this sad condition. Some six or seven courageous 
souls, with chairs, clubs, or whatever they could 
seize upon, furiously attacked the advancing foe. 
The Indians, who were as much surprised as the 
soldiers, had but little more courage than the-y, 
and immediately took to their heels for safety ; 
thus quitting the house defeated by one quarter 



51:=:: 



82 



HISTORY OF 



their number of niiarmed men. The trumpeter, 
who was in the upper part of the house when the 
attack commenced, seized his trumpet and began 
sounding an alarm, when he was shot dead by 
an Indian upon the stairway. He was the only 
one of the party killed. 

^'Cummings who was wounded had his arm 
broken, but was so fortunate as to reach the woods 
while the Indians were engaged in the house. 
That night he lay in a swamp in the northerly 
part of Tyngsborough, about a quarter of a mile 
west of the great road, and a few rods south of 
the state line. The next day he arrived at the 
garrison near Tyngsborough village." (I.) 

There were several of these garrisons in town 
to which the inhabitants fled in times of danger 
like the present, and where they usually spent 
their nights. " They were environed by a strong 
wall of stone or of hewn timber built up to the 
eaves of the houses, through which was a gate 
fastened by bars and bolts of iron. They were 
Hned either with brick or plank. Some of them 
had port holes for the discharge of musketry." 
They were generally built of logs, and had the 
upper story projecting three or four feet beyond 
the lower story walls, for the purpose of greater 
security. (2.) 

This last account of the attack 'contradicts that 
of Penhallow in some particulars, but as Penhal- 
low, who wrote the history of the Indian wars of 
that period, was an officer, and a cotemporary, 
his statement that half the number of troopers 
were destroyed is most probably correct. The 
circumstances of the surprise corroborate it. In 
a cotemporary Journal of Rev. John Pike of Do- 

(1.) I N. H. Hist. Coll. 133. 
(2.) Allen's C/ielmsfood, 148. 



-.^. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



83 



■n 



ver, the attack is thus mentioned: '* July 3rd, 
1706, Capt. Pearson of Rowley marching with 
his troops to Dunstable, and being posted with 
part of his troops at one Blanchard's house, while 
they were at supper in the chamber, the enemy 
had slyly turned Blanchard's sheep into his corn, 
which he and his wife going out to restore, were 
both slain. The doors and gates being open, the 
enemy entered the house, killed Pearson's trum- 
peter with th?^ee other troopers, and wounded Jive 
r)iore. At last they were driven out of the house 
v/ith the loss of one Indian. Pearson v/as much 
blamed for not setting his sentinels out. "(1.) 



There is discrepancy and confusion in these 
accounts, probably arising from the fact that two 
attacks are blended together. Penhallow is prob- 
ably correct ia his statement that the conflict with 
the troopers, and the death of Mrs. Cummings 
occurred at Cummings's house. Blanchard's gar- 
rison was at some distance from this scene, and 
he with most of his family, and others not men- 
tioned by Penhallow or Pike, were killed at the 
same time, as appears by the following extracts 
from the ancient records of the town. From these 
it would seem that the garrisons v/ere attacked 
^'' G!t night. ^'' 

"Nathaniel Blanchard dyed on July the 3rd at 
night 1706. Lydia Blanchard, v/ife of Nathaniel 
Blanchard, and Susannah Blanchard, daughter 
Nath'i Blanchard, <iyed on July 3rd at night in 
the year 1706. 

"Mrs. Hannah Blanchard dyed on July the 3rd 
at night in the year 1706. 

" Goody Giiramings, the wife of John Cum- 
mings died on July the third at night, 1706. 

" Rachel Galusha died on July the 3rd, 1706." 



(I.) Pike's Journal. 3 N. H. Hist. Coll. 56. 



84 HISTORY OF 



''After that/*' on the same day, says Penhal- 
low, '° a small party attacked Daniel Galusha's 
house, who held them in play for some lime till 
the old man's courage failed, when on surrender- 
ing himself he informed them of the state of 
the garrison ; how that one man was killed 
and only two men and a boy left, which caus- 
ed them to rally anew and witli greater courage 
than before. Upon which one man and the boy 
got on the outside, leaving only Jacob [Gahisha] 
to fight the battle, who for some time defended 
himself with much bravery, but overpowered 
with force and finding none to assist him, was 
obliged to quit and make the best escape he coi?ld. 
But before he got far the enemy laid hold of him 
once and again, and yet by much struggling he 
rescued himself. Upon this they burned the 
house, and next day fell on Amesbury.'"(l.) 

Galusha's garrison was about two miles west 
of Weld's garrison, on Salmon brook, at a place 
formerly called Glasgow, where Henry Turrell 
now lives. Pike mentions the attack, but in a 
manner to shov/ that our accounts are very im- 
perfect. '• Near about the same time, or soon af- 
ter, they assaulted another house belonging to 
Jacob Galusha, a Dutchman. The house was 
burned, some persons were killed and some es- 
caped. The whole number said to have been 
slain in Dunstable at this time was nine per- 
sons. "(2.) 

In a note to '•' Penballow's Indian Wars," by 
John Farmer, Esq., the following more particular 
account of this attack is given : '' The savages 
disappointed in this part of their plan, (the at- 
tack on Weld's garrison) immediately proceeded 
to Galusha's, two miles distant,^ took posses- 



(1.) 1 a; h. Hist. Coii. 49. 

(2.) Pike's Journal. 3 N. H. Hist. Coll. 56. His name was 
J Daniel. 



i^- 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 85 



sion of and burned it. One woman only escaped. 
Had the company at Weld's armed and immedi- 
ately pursued, they might probably have pre- 
vented this disaster; but they spent so much 
time in arming and getting their horses, that the 
enemy had an opportunity to perpetrate the mis- 
chief, and escaped uninjured. 

" The woman above mentioned, when the In- 
dians attacked the house, sought refuge in the 
cellar, and concealed herself under a dry cask. 
After hastily plundering the house, and murder- 
ing, as they supposed, all who were within it, 
the Indians set it on fire, and immediately re- 
tired. The woman, in this critical situation, at- 
tempted to escape by the window, but found it 
too small. She however succeeded in loosening 
the stones, till she had opened a hole sufficient to 
admit of her passage, and with the house in flames 
over her head, she forced herself out and crawled 
into the bushes, not daring to rise for fear she 
should be discovered. In tlie bushes she lay 
concealed until the next day, when she reached 
one of the neighboring garrisons."' (1.) 

In the Records of the General Court of Mas- 
sachusetts, mention is made several times of these 
conflicts. The sum of £4 was granted to " Rob- 
ert Rogers, of Rowley," who was "one of Capt. 
Peirson's company when attacked by the Indians 
at Dunstable, and was wounded by a spear run 
into his breast." (2.) The sum of £10 was also 
allowed to Capt. Peirson, "for the scalp of an 
Indian enemy slain the last summer by him and 
his company at Dunstable, to be by him distri- 
buted and paid to such of his troops, and the 
inhabitants of said town, that were at the gar- 
rison when and where the Indian was slain." 

(I.) 1 iV. H. Hist. Coll. 133: note. 1 Belknap, 173: vote. 
(2.) Mass. Military Records. May 26, 1707. 



:|^ 



86 HISTORY OF 



In 1712 we find the following petition of Dan- 
iel Gall nsha, in which he states, "that abont 
six years past, \vhen the Indians attacked and 
took the house of Daniel Gallusha, his father in 
Dunstable, he being posted there under her Maj- 
esty's pay, and serving there with his own arms, 
while running hastily to take his own gun, by 
mistake took one of the public arms, and the en- 
emy pressing sure upon him, he was forced to 
make his escape, the house being burned by the 
enemy, with his gun and others therein. Upon 
which Col. (Jonathan) Tyng stops forty shil- 
lings of his wages for the said gun." (1.) This 
is perhaps the person called by Penhallow, Jacob 
Galusha. 

The Indians still remained in the vicinity, and 
a few days afterwards this company of " troop- 
ers " fell into an ambuscade, and lost several of 
their number. The only circumstances now 
known are contained in the following brief notice : 
" Joseph Kidder and Jeremiah Nelson, of Row- 
ley, were killed 10th July, 1706, and John Pick- 
ard mortally vv^ounded, and died at Billerica on 
the 5th August following." (2.) 

Within a few days the Indians again made 
their appearance. "July 27th. Lt. Butterfield 
and his wife, riding between Dunstable and an- 
other town, (Chelmsford,) had their horse shot 
down by the enemy. The man escaped, the 
woman was taken, and Joe English, a friendly In- 
dian, in company with them at the time, was 
slain." (3.) This attack is said to have taken 
place at Holden's Brook, a little south of the 
State line. 

(I.) Mass. Military Records, 1712, pag-e 225. 

(2.) 1 Belknap, 173: note. 

(3.) Pike's Journal. 3 N. H. Hist. Coll. 57. 



» 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 87 



After the escape of Joe English from the Indi- 
ans and the deception he had practised upon 
them, they deternriined upon revenge. This am- 
buscade was the consequence, and the story is 
thus told more at length as handed down by tra- 
dition : " After his return to Dunstable, Joe with 
another soldier was appointed to guard Captain 
Butterfield and his wife on a visit to some of 
their friends in the upper part of Chehnsford. 
They were mounted on horseback preceded by 
Joe, with his gun loaded, and the other soldier 
following in the rear. 

"In passing Holden's Brook, now in Tyngsbo- 
rough, a party of Indians discovered them, who 
immediately tired after they crossed the brook, 
killed the horse on which Capt. Butterfield and 
wife were riding, and then rushed onto kill their 
prey. Joe had gone too far from the brook to ef- 
fect his retreat, and he being the principal object 
they wished to secure, they pursued him. Capt. 
Butterfield and the other soldier made their es- 
cape, but Mrs. Butterfield was taken prisoner. 

"Joe espying on his left a considerable thicket 
of woods, ran towards it with all possible haste, 
but he found the Indians gained upon him. He, 
therefore, turned round, faced them, and present- 
ed his gun, upon which they fell immediately to 
to the ground. This gave Joe some advantage, 
and after taking breath he set out again for the 
thicket. This he repeated several times, when 
the Indians, finding he was likely to escape by 
his near approach to the woods, with which they 
knew he was perfectly acquainted, and where he I 
could easily conceal himself, one of them fired, j 
and the ball entered the arm with which he car- 
ried his gun, which he was immediately com- 
pelled to drop, and ran with greater speed than 
before. He was just on the point of entering the j 

^ _, ■^^ ---rzrrrnr, -^ ^ 



m 



88 HISTORY OF 



thicket, when a second ball entered his thigh and 
brought him to the ground. 

" The Indians were highly elated with the pros- 
pect of taking vengeance on Joe. and they had al- 
ready in their mindSj prepared the keenest and 
most excruciating tortures for their victim. Joe 
was not ignorant of thesuffering that awaited him, 
and wished to provoke them so much that they 
might despatch him at once. They soon came 
up to him, and vented their feelings in all the 
expressions of savage triumph and pleasure.— 
" Now Joe," said they, " we 've got you." Joe 
immediately made them a gesture and a reply of 
such insulting scorn, that they were highly irritat- 
ed. His purpose was answered, for they des- 
patched him with their tomahawks without fur- 
ther ceremony." (I.) 

Joe English was a grandson of Masconnomet, 
chief Sagamore of Agawam, (Ipswich, Mass.) 
As one of his heirs he owned an interest in large 
tracts of land lying in that vicinity and upon the 
Merrimac, which he conveyed by various deeds 
in 1701 and 1702. (2.) Many are the stories 
which are related of his courage, his fidelity, his 
adventures, and his hair breaclth escapes. His 
death was lamented as a public loss. The Gen- 
eral Assembly made a grant to his widow and 
two children '• bcca2ise he died in the service of his 
countnjP (3.) xind his memory, although hum- 
ble, was long cherished as one who fell by the 
hands of his own brethren, on account of his 
friendship for the whites. 

We find no further mention of damage done by 
the Indians in Dunstable for many years, although 
they made frequent and bloody attacks upon 

(I.) Indian Anecdotes, \^\.. Farmer's Historical Catechism, 24. 

(2.) Mass. Mllifarx Records, 1706. 
j! (3.) His signature' was a bov/ with the arrow drawn to its head. 
I i History of Rowley, 373, 33 1 . 
S ^ 



m=~- 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



89 



Other neighboring and frontier towns. There 
were incursions, indeed, and alarms, for in 
March, 1710, it was " voted and agreed upon by 
the inhabitants that the selectmen should take 
care in order to obtain some help and assistance 
from the country, by a petition to the General 
Court." This was done only in cases of great 
emergency. A company of '-snowmen" were 
kept scouting, and ordered here for the protec- 
tion of the settlement, under Col. Tyng, and 
garrisons established at several places at which 
the settlers dwelt. The history of the frontiers 
until the close of the v/ar, in 1713, is but a series 
of attacks, burnings, captivity, and massacre. 
"From 1675 to 1714 it is estimated that Massa- 
chusetts and New Hampshire lost 6000 young 
men and male children, including those killed 
and those who were made captives v/ithout ever 
being recovered." 

In November, 1711, the inhabitants still lived 
principally in garrison houses, where soldiers 
under the pay of the Colony were stationed con- 
stantly for their defence. From a return of the 
number, location, and situation of these garrisons 
made to the General Court at that time, it appears 
that there were seven garrisons, containing thir- 
teen families and eighty-six persons, in this town. 
This perhaps did not include the whole number 
of families in town. If it did, the number had 
diminished more than one half since 1680 — a 
striking proof of the dangers and sufferings of 
the early settlers. 

The following is a list of the garrisons, num- 
ber of families, number of male inhabitants in 
each garrison, number of soldiers stationed in 
each garrison, and the whole number of inhabi- 



--M 



M-- 



90 



History ot' 



m 



tants in each garrison. The "Queen's Garri- 
son " was probably Wataaniick, at fc^alnion 
Brook. (1.) 



Names of Gani^cin?. 






-^ 



C-O 



Col. (Jonathan) Tyng's, 
Mr. Henry FarwelTs, 
Mr. (Jolm) Cninmings' 
Col. (Sani'l) Whiting's. 
Mr. (Thomas) Lnnd's/ 
(Queen's Garrison, 
Mr. (John) Tiollendine's, 
Total, 



1 
3 

2 
8 
1 

2 
1 

i3~ 



1 


6 


8 


3 


2 


28 


2 


2 


21 





1 


8 


1 


4 


2li 





4 


j 


7 


19 


86;i 



; In June, 1713, a grant of £10 was made to 

I Samnel Whiting, who had been "taken captive 

I and carried to Canada" during the war. but had 

[I escaped, and who. in consequence of w ounds and 

sufferinsis, was still under the doctor's care and 

unable to labor. (2 ) 

It was probably son)e time during tliis war that 
Richard liassell, (a son of Joseph Hassell killed 
in 1691.) was taken captive by Indians on Long 
Hill in tlie soutli })art of the town and carried to 
Canada. 

Thus feeble and suffering had been the condition 
of the settlement for many years. Fear and des- 
olation reigned every where. Compelled to dwell 
in garrisons, and to labor at the constant peril of 
life, how could the settlers thrive? Dunstable 
was scarcely more advanced in 1714 than it was 
in 1680, so disastrous had been the effects of the 
long and bloody wars. Many of the most useful 



(I.) 3fass. Military JRecords, 171 1. 
(2.) Mass. Militartj Rrxords, 1713. 



<^ 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



91 



inhabitants had been slain or taken captive, heads 
of famihes especially. Some had removed to 
places more secure from Indian depredation, and 
deserted all. Few, very few emigrated to what 
might well be termed " the dark and bloody 
ground," and it was no time for marriage feasts 
when the bridal procession might at every step 
become a funeral one, and the merry langh be 
drowned by the rifle and the war whoop. 

"The war on the part of the Indians," says 
Bancroft, " was one of ambushes and surprises. 
They never once met the English in open field ; 
but always, even if eight fold in number, fled 
timorously before infantry. But they were secret 
as beasts of prey, skilful marksmen, and in part 
provided with fire arms, fleet of foot, conversant 
with all the paths of the forest, patient of fatigue, 
and mad with a passion for rapine, vengeance, 
and destruction ; retreating into swamps for their 
fastnesses, or hiding in the greenwood thickets, 
where the leaves muffled the eyes of the pursuer. 

" By the rapidity of their descent they seemed 
omnipresent among the scattered villages, which 
they ravaged like a passing storm, and for years 
they kept all New England in a state of alarm 
and excitement. The exploring party was way- 
laid and cut ofl*, and the mangled carcasses and 
disjointed limbs of the dead were hung upon the 
trees to terrify pursuers. The laborer in the field, 
the reapers as they went forth to the harvest, men 
as they went to mill, the shepherd's boy among 
the sheep, were shot down by skulking foes whose 
approach was invisible. 

" Who can tell the heavy hours of woman ? — 
The mother if left alone in the house feared the 
tomahawk for herself and children. On the sud- 
den attack the husband would fly with one child. 



^g 



^- 



92 



HISTORY OF 



s 



the wife with another, nud perhaps one only es- 
cape. The village cavalcade making its way to 
meeting on Sunday, in files on horseback, the 
farmer holding his bridle in one hand and a child 
in the other, his wife seated on a pillion behind 
him, it may be vvith a child in her lap as was the 
fashion in those days, could not proceed safely, 
but at the moment when least expected bullets 
would come whizzing by them, discharged with 
fatal aim from an ambuscade^ by the wayside. — 
The forest that protected the ambush of the In- 
dians secured their retreat. They hung upon the 
skirts of the English villages 'like the lightning 
on the edge of the cloud.' " (1.) 

"Did they surprise a garrison? Quickly," 
writes Mary Rowlandson of Lancaster, " it was 
the dolefullest day that ever mine eyes saw. Now 
the dreadful hour is come. Some in our house 
were fighting for their lives : others wallowing in 
blood : the house on fire over our heads, and ilic 
bloody heathen ready to knock us on the head if 
we stirred out. I took my children to go forth, 
but the Indians shot so thick that the bullets rat- 
tled against the house as if they had thrown a 
handful of stones. We had six stout dogs but not 
one of them would stir. 

'• The bullets flying thick, one went through 
my side, and through my poor child in my arms." 
The brutalities of an Indian massacre followed. 
"There remained nothing to me,*' she continues 
being in captivity. " but one poor wounded babe. 
Down I must sit in the snow with my sick child, 
the picture of death, in my lap. Not the least 
crumb of refreshing came within either our mouths 
from Wednesday night till Saturday nighi, ex- 
cepting only a little cold water. One Indian, 
and then a second, and then a third would come 



(I.) 2 Bancroft's United States, \02. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C 



93 



and tell me : ' Your master will quickly knock 
your child on the head.' This was the comfort 
I had from them ; miserable comforters were they 
all/' (1.) 

Such was the life of ihe early settlers of Dun- 
stable, and could our plains unfold the bloody 
scenes and heart touching events which have 
here taken place, their story would be as strange 
and thrilling as that of Mary Rowlandson. 
These scenes have indeed passed away, and their 
actors are well nigh forgotten, but we ought nev- 
er to forget that our soil has been sprinkled with 
their blood, and that to them we owe most of the 
blessings which we enjoy. 

(I.) Mary Roiclandson^s Narrative, 12 — 15. 



CHAPTER VI. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY FROM 1702 TO m?. 



For many years after the death of Rev. Mr. 
Weld the ecclesiastical iaffairs of the the town are 
involved in much obscurity. No minister was 
settled here during the war, and no records remain 
of the proceedings of the town until 1710. Yet 
during this long struggle, although the settlement 
was nearly deserted, the public services of the 
church v/ere not neglected in their distress and 
care for self-preservation. In June, 1705, the 
General Court granted £26 to the town for the 
support of the ministry for the year ensuing.(l.) 
Who was the minister at this period is not known 
certainly, but probably it was Rev. Samuel Hunt, 
as in September, 1706, he was desired by the 
Governor and Council to cojidfiue at Dunstable, 
by the following order : (2.) 

"Boston, Sept. 4th. 1706. I am ordered by his Excel- 
lency the Governor and Conncil to acquaint you that your 
service as minister at Dunstable is acce[)table to them, and 
desire a continuance thereof, and they will endeavor to 
promote yr. encouragement by the General x\ssembly as 
formerly, a?u! hope they will be prevailed with to make it 
belter: I am sir, 

your humble servant, 

Isaac ADDiNG-roN, SecV." 

«Mr. Samuel Hunt, Clerk." 



(I.) Mass. Ecclesiastical Records, 1705. 
(2.) Miss. Ecclesiastical Records, 1707, 
graduated at Harvard College, 1700. 



page 239. Mr. Hunt 



m- 



:^' 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 95 



M' 



Mr. Hunt continued his ministry at Dunstable 
until the spring of 1707, when he was ordered to 
accompany the expedition against Port Royal as 
Chaplain of the forces, as appears by the follow- 
ing petition, (I.) upon which the sumof £18 was 
allowed : 

" The Petition of Samuel Hunt, Clerk, sheweth: 
" That your petitioner has served as minister at Dunsta- 
ble ever since the fourth of Sept. 1706, having received a 
signification from this Honorable Board, under the hand of 
Mr. Secretary Addington, that the same was desired by 
your Excellency and llonorables ; intimating withal that 
your petitioner should have the same encouragement as 
formerly, (or better,) which your petitioner understood to 
be the same as he had at Casco iJay, which was fifty-two 
pounds per annum, and his board. And on the 23d April 
last past, yr. petitioner was dismissed from that service in 
order to go to Port Royal, when lie had served 33 weeks at 
Dunstable aforesaid, for which your petitioner has not yet 
received any salary — aud yr. petitianer prays that the same 
may be allowed as aforesaid. Samuel Hu]>?t." 

^^ Dec. 5, 1707." 

As early as the 1st of October, 1708, Rev. 
Samuel Parris commenced preaching in Dunsta- 
ble, and tlie General Court granted him £20 per 
annum for three years or more, toward his sup- 
port. (2.) He remained here until the winter 
of 1711 or the spring of 1712, but how much 
longer is unknown. Mr. Parris was previously 
settled at Salem village, (or Danvers) and in his 
society and in his family, it is said, commenced 
the famous "Salem Witchcraft" delusion of 
i6yl, which led to the death of so many innocent 
persons, and which tilled New England v/ith 
alarm, sorrow, and shame. (3.) 

"Sept. 12, 1711. [It was] agreed upon to re- ij 

(I.) Mass. Ecclesiastical Records, 1707, pag-e 23^. 
(2.) Mass. Ecclesiastical Records, 1709, 1710, 1711. 
(3.) Up/iam's Lectures on the Salem Witchcraft. Mr. Parris 
died in Sudbury, Mass. 






96 HISTORY OF 



k^ 



payr the meeting house, it being left to the se- 
lectmen to let out the work, and take care for the 
boards and nails." 

After Mr. Parris left Dunstable, public worship 
still continued, and the pulpit was supplied con- 
stantly, for in June 1712, the General Court grant- 
ed '' £10 to Dunstable for the support of the min- 
istry the last half year," and in June 1713, £10 
more '• for the year'past." This is the last record 
of any assistance granted to the town by the col- 
ony. With the return of peace, prosperity smiled 
upon the settlement. New settlers thronged in, 
farms were extended, and the inhabitants were 
enabled to bear their own burdens. 

In 1713, Rev. Ames Cheever, who graduated 
at Harvard in 1707, was preaching in Dunstable. 
Nov. 20th, 1713, it was voted, " that the resident 
proprietors of Dunstable pay Mr. Cheever £40 
a year." How much earlier Mr Cheever com- 
menced his labors is uncertain, but he continued 
preaching here until June, 1715, at which time 
he received a call. '* At a General Town meet- 
ing of the Inhabitants legally warned, at Dun- 
stable, on June the 6th," 1715, Then voted and 
agreed, that Joseph Bianchard is to pay to Mr. 
Clieever his money that is due him, and upon 
discoursing with him, if he seems to incline to 
settle with us, then to declare to him, that the 
Town at a meeting voted that they vv^ould readily 
consent that he should come and settle with us, 
and have the same encouragements as to settle- 
ment and salarij as was voted him at our last 
meeting concerning him. Also, voted that Jo- 
seph Bianchard shall deliver a letter to Mr. 
Short, (Rev. Matthew, v/ho graduated at Har- 
vard, 1707) or some other minister, to come and 
preach with us for some time." 

in those days, ministers were settled for life, 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



97 



and it was customary for the Town to give them 
a ministerial /arm, or a certain sum of money by 
v/ay of deficit, which was called a settlement. — 
He received an annual salary in addition. This 
settlement was usually, in a town like Dunsta- 
ble, from £S0 to £100 in value, while the salary 
ranged from £50 to £100 per annum. 

Mr. Cheever, however, did not accept the call 
to settle, and soon after a Mr Treat was preach- 
ing here. ^'Nov. 2d, 1715, it was voted for to 
desier Mr. Treat to continue with us sum time 
longer, and to give him as before, which was 20 
shillings a Sabbath, Also, voted that Sarg't 
Gumings should be looking out for a minister 
in order for settlement.'' 

"January 16th, 1717, voted that Henry Far- 
well and Sarg't Cnmmings are to endever to get 
a minister as soon as they can, and to see after 
Mr. Weld's place (the old parsonage) to by it 
if it be to be had. Also, Joseph French is to 
entertain the minister." French lived at the 
first house on the main road northerly of the 
State line. 

•■ 1st May, 1717, voted that there be a day of 
fast kept sum time this instant May. Voted that 
ye 15th day of this instant May, be the day ap- 
pointed to be kept as a day of Fast. At the same 
time Decon Gumings was chosen for to discourse 
Mr. Stoder (Kev. Samson Stoddard, of Ghelms- 
ford,) concerning the Fast." This was a fast 
ordained by Gov. Shate, (1.) and was, probably, 
in consequence of the alarming threats and dep- 
redations which were made at this time, by some 
of the Indian tribes against the frontier settle- 
ments. (2.) 



i: 



(1.) 1 Belknap, 18G. 

(2.) PenkalloiP. I iV. H. Hist. Coll., 89. 



98 



HISTORY OF 



-.« 



"Sept. 26th, 1717, voted that the Rev. Jona. 
Parepoint [Peirpoint, of Reading, Mass., grad. 
Harvard, 1714,] should have a call in order for 
settlement. Also, voted that the nriinister should 
have £80 a year salary, and one hundred pounds 
for his settlement. Voted that Major Eleazer 
'I'yng and Ensign Farwell should acquaint Rev. 
Mr. Pairpont with what is voted at this meeting.'' 

This call was equally unsuccessful with the 
former, and "Sept. 2d, 1718, chose a committee 
to go to discourse with Mr. Coffin [Enoch, grad. 
Harvard, 1714,] in order for a settlement." It is 
stated by Mr. Farmer, so noted for his accuracy, 
that the Rev. Mr. Prentice was settled here this 
year. This is a mistake, and the same error 
occurs in all other notices of Dunstable. (1.) 

"Dec. 1st, 1718, voted that the Rev. Enoch 
Coffin should have £80 a year salary iii money. 
Also, voted to give him land which cost the 
town £80, and ten acres of meadow for his 
settlement ; and also 200 acres of the common 
lands." Both the church and the town unani- 
mously agreed " to give Rev. Mr. Enoch Coffin 
a call to be our settled minister." 

It would seem that Mr. Coffin accepted thecall, 
for May 18th, 1719, " a committee was chosen 
with Mr. Coffin to lay out his meadows," which 
were offered him in case of settlement, and dur- 
ing this year, in the records of land laid out, he 
is styled the p?^esent miiiister of said Town. — 
Sometliing, however, occurred to prevent his legal 
ordination at that time, as nearly a year after, 
March 7th, 1720, a committee was chosen " to 
go to our neighboring ministers, and to discourse 
them all in order for the ordination of Rev. Mr. 
Coffin." But he was not settled at all, for May 
20th, 1720, " a committy was chosen to com- 

(1.) \ N. H. Hist. Coll., 150, 5. 109 Rev. Mr. Spem/s Sketch. 



rS 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, 3cC. 



99 



pound matters with Mr. CofRn, concerning the 
Town's settlement money, and Mr. Coflin's offer 
to the Town concerning his place.'' 

Mr. CofFm resided here for some time with his 
family, and Nov. 5tl], 1719, a daughter, Mehit- 
abel, was born. He left town June, 1720, and 
returned to his native place, Newbury, Mass. — 
He afterwards went as chaplain with the first 
band of settlers to Concord, N. H., and settled 
there May. 1726, where he died August 17th, 
1727, aged'32. (1.) 

The Ecclesiastical affairs of the town were for 
many years involved in so much confusion and 
difficulty, as almost to warrant thf; facetious re- 
mark of Col. Taylor to Gov. Burnet. The Gov- 
ernor, who was no friend to long graces before 
meals, on his first journey from New York to take 
upon him the government of Massachusetts and 
New Hampshire, enquired of Col. Taylor when 
the graces would shorten. He replied, " The 
graces will increase in length until you come to 
Boston : after that they will shorten until you 
come to your government of New Hampshire, 
when your Excellency will find no grace at all." 
(2.) 

In June, 1720, Rev. Nathaniel Prentice began 
to preach here. Aug. 20th, 1720, the town gave 
Mr. Prentice a call, with the offer of £100 set- 
tlement, and £80 a year salary; but warned by 
their premature grants of land to Mr. CoflSn be- 
fore ordination, they prudently inserted ^proviso, 
that he was "not to enter upon said £80 salary 
till after he is our ordained minister." 

Mr. Prentice accepted the call, and was proba- 



(l.) 1 N. H.Hist. Coll., 180. 
(2.) 1 Belknap, 223: note. 



*9 



■« 



« 



100 HISTORY OF 



bly ordained during the fall of 1720. He proba- 
bly claimed a larger salary, as Nov. 13th, 1720, 
it was voted, " That when Mr. Prentice comes to 
keep house and have a family, and stands in need 
of a larger supply, then to ad Reasonable Ad- 
itions to his salary, if our abilities will afford it." 
They also voted, Dec. 8th, 1720, ''• That Mr. 
Prentice after marriage should have a sufficient 
supply of ivood, or ten pounds of passable money 
in lew thereof y early P He was soon after mar- 
ried to Mary Tyng, of Dunstable, and died here, 
according to Mr. Farmer, Feb. 27th, 1737. (1.) 
He was buried, it is said, in the old south bury- 
ing ground, beside his children, but there is no 
monument or inscription to mark the place of his 
interment. 

Of the character and talents of Mr Prentice, 
we have little information. " It is said of him," 
says Mr. Sperry, " that he was a man of wit and 
a good sermonizer.'' That he was popular we 
may conjecture from the fact that the people here 
were contented under his preaching for so many 
years, and additions from time to lime after his 
settlement, were made to his salary. In 1730, 
and perhaps earlier, £90 were raised' fDr him : in 
1731 the non resident taxes added : in 1732 he 
received £105 and the nonresident taxes; and 
in 1733 the same. The town also voted to build 
a new meeting house near the old one. The 
value of money, in comparison with other arti- 
cles, however, had then depreciated so miich, in 
consequence of the emission of large quantities of 
paper money by the Colony, that perhaps his 
compensation at this time was worth little more 
than his original salary. (2.) This, though it 
may seem to us a small sum, [£S0, or ^270.00] 



I (1.) Others say in 1735. 

(2.) See table of values of money in Appendix. 



NASHUA. NASHVILLE, fcC. 



101 



'-n 



was no mean salary in those days, when the 
Colony gave the Governor but £100 a year, and j 
when Portsmouth, the Capital, and which had 
been settled a century, gave its minister a salary 
of only £130. (1.) 

(I.) Adams' Annals of Portsinmiili, 




CHAPTER YIL 



INDIAN ATTACK OF 1724. 

The mournful story of Indian massacre must 
now be resumed. After the close of Queen 
jj Anne's war, by the ratification of the treaty of 
jj peace between Prance and England, at Utrecht, 
II a treaty was made with the Indians at Ports- 
mouth, N. H.J in July, 1713. and quiet reigned 
throughout the frontiers for many years. The 
emigrants pushed their settlements farther and 
farther into the wilderness, and ihe smoke curling 
up from many a cabin along the green hill sides, 
and in the rich valleys, gave signs of advancing 
civiHzation. The distant Indians, however, were 
still hostile and treacherous, alihough, being de- 
serted by France, they were compelled to make 
peace. 

In 1717' they began lo be more and more inso- 
lent, killing the cattle and threatening the Hves 
of the settlers, and occasioned so much alarm 
that a Fast was ordered. These outrages were 
imputed to the instigations of the French mis- 
sionaries, (the Jesuits) who were jealous of the 
growth of the English plantations. In August, 
1717, however, a congress was held with them at 
Arrowsick on the Keimebec River, and the treaty 
of 1713 was renev/ed. (1.) This apparent friend- 
ship lasted but a short time, owing, as was said, 

(I.) PenhaUow. I N. H. Hist. Co//., 89. 1 Belknap 130. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE. &C. 103 

to the advice of Father Rasle and the Jesuits, 
for in 1720 they began to threaten again, and in 
June, 1722, attacked the settlement at Merry 
Meeting Bay, on the southern shore of Lake 
Winnepisiogee, and " carried oft' nine famihes." 

During all the previous Indian wars, Dunsta- 
ble was the frontier town, and therefore exposed 
to greater dangers than its more interior neigh- 
bors. Now other settlements had commenced 
beyond us, although yet in their infancy, and in- 
capable of affording much protection. As early 
as 1710 settlements were made in Hudson. Lon- 
donderry (then called Nulfield) was settled in 
1719, and Litchfield (then called Brenton's Farm, 
or by its ancient Indian name, Naticook) in 1720. 
Chester was also settled in 1720, and Merrimac 
and Pelham in 1722. During the years 1722- 
3-4, frequent ravages were committed and much 
alarm excited. As we look around on our beau- 
tiful villages and thickly peopled towns, we can 
scarcely realize that a little more than a century 
ago the yell of the Indian was heard even here, 
and the shriek of the murdered settler went up to 
heaven with the flames of his desolated home. 

lu the summer of 1723 the Indians attacked 
Dover and Lamprey River, and fearing an attack 
upon the settlements in this vicinity, a garrison 
of thirty men was posted in Dunstable. It was 
still considered a //•o??^zer town, and was the ren- 
dezvous of all the scouting parties which travers- 
ed the valleys of the Merrimack and the Nashua. 
The scouts were drafted from the different regi- 
ments, and were constantly out upon excursions 
against the Indians. In Nov. 1723, Capt. Dan'l 
Peeker arrived at Dunstable with such a compa- 
ny from Haverhill, and having received recruits 

(1.) 1 Belknap, 20\. 



7Z^ 



m^ 



104 



u 



HISTORY OF 



here, marched to Penichook brook. Souheoan, 
Anconoonook hills, Piscataquog, Amoskeag, x\n- 
nahooksit, Coiitookook, Cohasset, [Goffe's Falls] 
and Beaver brook, but " discov^ered no enenny." 
A small party was sent out by him " under the 
command of Jona. Robbins ot' Dunstable," and 
were gone several da^^s but without success. (1.) 
At the same time a company under the com- 
mand of Lt. Jabez Fairbanks of Groton, was also 
scouting up and down the Nashua. Tn this com- 
pany vv^ere six men from Dunstable; viz: Joseph 
Blanchard, Thomas Lund, Isaac Farwell, Eben'r 
Cummings, John Usher, and Jonathan Combs. 
Upon a petition from the selectmen of the town, 
stating its exposed situation, and the necessity 
that they should be allowed to stay at home to 
guard it, they were all discharged, upon the con- 
dition, however, that they should perform duty 
at Dunstable. (2.) 

January 19, 1724, died Hon. Jonathan Tyng, 
aged 81. He was the oldest son of Hon, Edward 
Tyng, and was born Dec. 15, 1642. He was one 
of the original proprietors of the town, and the 
earliest yermmient settler^ having remained here, 
alone, during Philip's war, when ever^ other per- 
son had deserted the settlement for fear of the In- 
dians. Tliat he was a man of much energy and 
decision of character we may judge from this 
fact. That he was a man of probity and of con- 
siderable distinction at an early period, we may 
infer from his appointment as Guardian over the 
Wamesit Indians in 1676, and from the numerous 
other important trusts confided to him from time 
to time by the Colony. 



(I.) Mass. Records. Journals nf Scouts, pag-e 47. Ri>hhins wa? 
a volunteer, and a Lieulenaiit under Capt. Lovewell in 1725 
(2.) Mass. Mtlitanj Records, 1723, page 111 — 115. 



r4£ 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 105 



K P 



In 1687, he was appointed (as well as his bro- 
ther, Edward Tyng) (1.) in the royal commis- 
sion of James II. as one of Sir Edmund Andros's 
Conncil. In 1692 he was chosen representative 
of Dunstable, and for many years as selectman, 
and otherwise was much engaged in the public 
business of the town. For many years during 
the wars of 1703, he was Colonel of the upper 
Middlesex regiment, and was entrusted with the 
care of all the garrisons within its bounds. 

Col. Tyng married Sarah, daughter of Heze- 
kiah Usher, who died in 1714. After her death, 
he married Judith Fox of Woburn, who died June 
5th. 1736, aged 99. His children were, 1. John, 
grad. of Harvard College, 1691, who was killed 
by the Indians in 1710 ; 2. WilUain, born 22d. 
April, 1679, the first child born in town ; 3. Elea- 
2:«r, grad. of Harvard College, 1712: 4. Mary, 
who married Rev. Nathaniel Prentice, minister of 
the town ; and others who died at an early age. 

In the winter and spring of 1721, Lieut. Fair- 
banks and his company were scouting about 
"Nashuway River," ^' Nisitisit Hills," "The 
Mines," or xMine Falls, " Penichuck Pond,' 
" Naticook," " Souheganock," " Nesenkeag," 
" Dunstable meeting house," and other places in 
this vicinity. In May, 1724, men vv^ere at work 
planting both north and v/est of Nashua river, 
and a part of this company were posted here as 
a garrison. (2.) 



(I.) EdAvard Tyng was appointed Governor of Annapolis, bul 
sailing for it, was taicen prisoner and carried into France where iie 
died. His children were ; — 1. jKc/icara, a hrave naval commander, 
born 1633 and died at Boston Sth. Sept. 175.3. 2. Jonathan, who 
died young. 3. Mary, who married Rev. .Tohn Fox of Wolmrn. 
•1. FMzabcth, who married a Ijrother of Dr. Franklin. Edward Tyng 
was a Lieutenant in the great Narraganset pwamp fight, Dec. 19, 
1675, and commanded the company after Capt. Davenport was killed. 

(2.) Mass. Records. Journal of Scouts, page o\. 






106 



HISTORY OF 



In August, 1724, the English sent a body of 
troops to attack the Indian town at Norridge- 
wock, Me. The town was surprised, and a large 
number of Indians slain, together with Father 
Rasle, the Jesuit, their priest, who was considered 
by the English as the instigator of all these out- 
rages. By this attack the Eastern Indians were 
much alarmed and weakened. But about this 
time a party of French Mohawks, to the number 
of 70, made an incursion into this neighborhood. 
"Sept. 4th they fell on Dunstable, and took tivo 
in the evening. Next morning Lt. French with 
Fourteen men went in pursuit of them, but being 
Avay-laid, both he and one half of liis men were 
destroyed. After this as many more of a fresh 
company engaged them, but the enemy being 
much superior in number, overpowered them, 
with the loss of one man killed and four wound- 
ed." (l.) A more particular account of this 
mournful event has been preserved and collected 
from various sources with much care and labor. 
It must prove interesting, at least to the descend- 
ants of the actors in these scenes, many of whom 
still reside among us, and may serve to make us 
all realize more fully the nature, extent, and 
worth of the sufferings of those into whose labors 
we have entered. 

"The tv/o captives mentioned above were 
Nathan Cross and Thos. Blanchard. (2.) They 
had been engaged in the manufacture of turpen- 
tine on the north side of the Nashua, in Nashville, 
near the spot where the upper part of the village 
now stands, and were seized while at work and 
carried off by the Indians. As there were at 
that time no houses or settlements on that side 



(1.) Penhallow. 1 TV. //. Hist. Coll., 109. 
(2.) A Grand-daughter of Thomas Blanchard, Mrs. Isaac Fool- 
is still livint?. 



§11 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, kC. 



lor 



of Nashua River at that place, these men had 
been in habit of returning every night to lodge 
in a saw mill on the south side of the river.— 
This mill was probably John Lovcwcil's, which 
stood on Salmon Brook at the bridge, hy the 
house of Miss Allds, the mud sills of which are 
now visible. Th-^ night following their capture 
they came not as usual> and an alarm was given, 
as it was feared they had fallen into the hands 
of the i-ndians, 

"A party consisting of ten of the principal in- 
habitants of the place, beside their leader, started 
in pursuit of them, under the direction of Lieut. 
Ebenezer French. In this company was Josiah 
Farweli, who was next year Lieutenant at Pe- 
quawkett under LoveAvell. When this party ar- 
rived at the spot where these men had been la- 
boring, they found the hoops of the barrels cut 
and the turpentine spread upon the ground. — 
From certain marks made upon the trees with 
wax mixed with grease, they understood that the 
men were taken and carried off alive. 

" In the course of the examination, Farweli 
perceived that the turpentine had not ceased 
spreading, and called the attention of his com- 
rades to this circumstance. They concluded that 
the Indians had been gone but a short time, and 
must be near, and decided on instant pursuit. — 
Farweli advised them to take a circuitous route 
to avoid an ambush ; but unfortunately he and 
French a short time before had a misunderstand- 
ing, and were then at variance. French imputed 
this advice to cowardice, and cried out, "I am 
going to take the direct path : if any of you are 
not afraid let him follow me." French led the 
way and the whole of the party followed, Far- 
well following in the rear. 

"Their route was up the Merrimac, towards 



JO 



^-- 



-% 



108 



HISTORY OF 



which they bent their course to look for their 
horses upon the intervals. At the brook (1.) near 
Satwych's [now Thornton's] Ferry they were 
way-laid. The Indians fired upon them and 
killed the larger part instantly. A few fled, but 
were overtaken and destroyed. French was 
killed about a mile from the place of action under 
an oak tree lately standing in a field belonging 
to Mr. John Lund, of Merrimac. Farwell in 
the rear, seeing those before him fall, sprung be- 
hind a tree, discharged his piece, and ran. Two 
Indians pursued him. The chase was vigorously 
maintained for some time, without either gaining 
much advantage, till Farwell passing through a 
thicket, the Indians lost sight of him, and proba- 
bly fearing he might have loaded again, they de- 
serted from farther pursuit. He was the only 
one of the company that escaped. 

"A company from the neighborhood immedi- 
ately mustered, and proceeded to the fatal spot 
to find the bodies of their friends and townsmen. 
Eight of them were found and conveyed to the 
burying place. ' Coffins were prepared for them, 
and they were decently interred in one capacious 
grave.' The names of these persons given 
in the Boston News Letter, were Lt. Ebenezer 
French, Thomas Lund, Oliver Farwell and Eb- 
enezer Cummings, who belonged to Dunstable, 
and all of whom, excepting the last, left widows 
and children, Daniel Baldwin and John Bur- 
bank, of Woburn, and Mr. Johnson, of Plain- 
field." 

Cross and Blanchard, the first named, were 
carried to Canada ; after remaining there some 
time they succeeded, by their own exertions, in 

(1.) Naticook Brook, the stream which crosses the road just above 
Thornton's. The scene of the ambush must have been noar the 
present highway. 



•ST; 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



109 



effecting their redemption, and returned home." 

(I) 

The place of their interment was the ancient 
Burial Ground near the State line, in which there 
is a monument still standing, with the following 
inscription, copied verbatim et literatim. 

"Aleniento Mori. 
Here lies the body of Mr Thomas Lund 
who departed this life Sept. 5th 17^4 in the 

42d year of his age. 
This man with seven more that lies in 
this grave was slew all in a day by 
The Indians." 
Three other grave stones stand close beside the 
above, very ancient, moss covered and almost 
illegible. One was erected to " Lt. Oliver Far- 
well, aged 33 years"; one to "Mr Ebenezer 
Cummings, aged 29 years", and one to ''Mr 
Benjamin Carter, aged 23 years". 

It is related by Penhallow, that after the first 
attack "a fresh company engaged them " but 
were overpowered " with the loss of one killed 
and four wounded." The Indians, elated with 
their success, moved forward to Nashua River, 
and this second fight is said to have taken place 
at the ancient fordway, where the highway 
crossed the Nashua, and very near its mouth. — 
It was probably at this time that the circum- 
stance occurred which has given to that portion 
of the village its name. Tradition reports that 
the Indians were on the north side of the river 
and the English on the south, and that after the 
fight had lasted a long time across the stream 
without decisive result, both parties drew off, and 
that after the Indians had departed, upon a large 
tree which stood by the river side, near the Con- 

(1.) I Belknap, 207 : note. Manuscript corrections thereof by 
John Farmer, Esq., in the possession of Isaac Spalding, Esq. 



110 



HISTORY OF 



cord Railroad Bridge, the figure of an Indian^s 
Head was found carved by them, as if in defi- 
ance. Such was the origin of " Indian Head." 

There is another version of the account, in- 
deed, which relates, that a fight once took place 
there between the whites and the Indians; that 
the latter were defeated, and all of them supposed 
to be slain ; but that one escaped, and carved 
upon a tree The Indian Head as a taunt and a 
threat of vengeance.' 

Sometime during this year, William Lund, 
" being in the service of his country, was taken 
prisoner by the Indian enemy and carried into 
captivity, where he suffered great hardships and 
was obliged to pay a great price for his ransom." 
The time, place and circumstances of his cap- 
ture and return are not known, and this brief rec- 
ord is all that remains. (1.) 




CHAPTER vm. 



LOVFAVELUS WAR AND LOVE WELL'S FIGHT. 

In consequence of this attack, and of the de- 
vastation everywhere committed by the Indians, 
John Lovewell, Josiah Farwell and Jonathan 
Robbins petitioned the General Assembly of 
Massachusetts for leave to raise a company, and 
to scout against the Indians. The original peti- 
tion, signed by them, is still on file in the office 
of the KSecretary of State in Boston, and is as 
follows : 

" The Hiimbie memorial of John Lovel, Josiah Farvvell, 
Jonathan Robbins, all of Dunstable, sheweth : 

" That your petitioners, with near forty or fifty others, 
are inclinable to range and to keep out in the woods for 
several months together, in order to kill and destroy their 
enemy Indians, provided they can meet with Incourage- 
ment suitable. And your Petitioners are Imployed and 
desired liy many other?, Humbly to propose and submit 
to your Honors' consideration, that if" such soldiers may 
be allowed five shillings per day, in case they kill any 
enemy Indian and possess their scalp, they will Imploy 
themselvea in Indian hunting one whole year; and if 
within that time they do not kill any, they are content 
to be allowed nothing for their wages, time, and trouble. 

John Lovewell. 
Josiah Farwell. 
Dunstable Nov. 1724. Jonathan Robbins." 

Lovewell was a man of great courage and fond 
of engaging in adventurous enterprises. He was 
particularly successful in hunting wild animals, 
and in time of war v/as engaged in exploring the 
wilderness to find the lurking places of the In- 



w 



112 



HISTORY OF 



dians who ravaged the settlements in New Eng- 
land. His lather, it is said, had been an ensign 
in the army of Cromwell, and a soldier under the 
famous Capt. Church in the great Narraganset 
Swamp fight, |and his sons inherited his military 
taste and ardor. This petition was granted, 
changing the conditions into a bounty of £100 
per scalp. The company was raised and a com- 
mission of Captain given to liOvewell. They 
became greatly distinguished, first by their suc- 
cess, and afterwards by their misfortunes. 

Love well was then in the prime of life, and 
burning with zeal to distinguish himself With 
his company of picked men he started upon an 
excursion into the Indian country. The head 
quarters of the Pequawketts, a fierce and dan- 
gerous tribe, were in the region between Lake 
Winnepiseogee and the pond in P^ryeburg, Me., 
since knovvn as " LoveiveWs Pond.'^ It was 
called Pequawkett, is filled with lakes, ponds and 
streams affording excellent fishing and hunting, 
and embraces the present towns of Conway, 
Wakefield, Ossipee, Fryeburg, &c. Dec. lOih. 
1724, while northward of Lake Winnepiseogee, 
the party came ^' on a wigwam wherein were 
two Indians, one of which they killed and the 
other took, for which they received the promised 
bounty of one hundred pounds^ scalp, and two 
shillings and six pence a day besides." (1.) 

Other similar expeditions had been attempted, 
but without much success. Some had fallen into 
ambuscades, and some after long and dangerous 
journeys through the pathless wilderness had re- 
turned without meeting an enemy. But the 
success of Capt. Lovewell roused their spirits, 
and he determined upon another excursion. This 

(1.) Penhalloic. 1 xV. H. Hid. Coll 100. 1 BdJ:nap,9.()^. 



m 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 113 

company was soon augmented to eighty-eight 
(1.) He marched again, February, 1725, and 
visiting the place where they had killed the In- 
dian, found his body as they had left it two 
months before. Their provisions falling short, 
thirty of them were dismissed by lot and return- 
ed home. 

The remaining fifty-eiglit continued their 
march till they discovered a track, which they 
followed until they sav/ a smoke just before 
sunset, by which they judged that the enemy 
were encamped for the night. This v/as 
February 20th. 1725. "They kept them- 
selves concealed til! after midnight, when they 
silently advanced and discovered ten Indians 
asleep around a fire by the side of a frozen 
pond. Loveweil was determined to make sure 
v/ork, and placing his men conveniently, or- 
dered a part of them to fire, five at once, as 
quick after each other as possible, and another 
part to reserve their fire. He gave the signal by 
firing his own gun, v/hich killed two of them. 
His men firing according to order killed five more 
on the spot. The other three starting up from 
their sleep, two of them were immediately shot 
dead by the reserve. The other though wound- 
ed attempted to escape by crossing the pond, but 
was seized by a dog and held fast till they killed 
him. 

" Thus in a few minutes tlic v/hole company 
was destroyed, and some attempt against the 
frontiers of New Hampshire prevented ; for these 
Indians were making irom Canada well furnish- 
ed with new guns, and plenty of ammunition. — 
They had also a number of spare blankets, 
mockaseens and snow-shoes, for the accommo- 

(l.) So say3 Report of Committees on the suhject in Mass. Rec- 
ords—Towns, 1728, 



St: 



114 



HtStORY OF 



dation of the prisoners which they expected to 
take, and were within two days' march of the 
frontiers. 

"The pond where this exploit was performed 
is at the head of a branch of Salmon Falls River, 
in the township of Wakeiield, and has ever since 
borne the name of LovciDdVs Pond.'' "The 
action is spoken of by elderly people at this dis- 
tance of time," says Belknap in 1790, from 
vx^hom the above is chiefly taken, " with an air 
of exultation, and considering the extreme diffi- 
culty of finding and attacking Indians in the 
woods, and the judicious manner in which they 
were so completely surprised, it was a capital 
exploit." 

" The ])rave company, with the ten scalps 
stretched on hoops and elevated on poles, entered 
Dover in triumph, and proceeded thence to Bos- 
ton, where they received the [)romised bounty of 
one hundred poiinds for each scalp out of the 
public treasury." (1.) 

Penhallow adds that " the guns were so good 
and new that most of them were sold for seven 
pounds (.$23.33) a piece. The plunder was but 
a few skins, but during the march our men were 
well entertained with moose, bear and deer, to- 
gether with salmon trout, some of which were 
three feet long, and weighed twelve pounds a 
piece." (2.) Scarcely had Lovewell returned 
from this successful excursion, when Capt. Elea- 
zar Tyng of this town, collecting a large com- 
pany of volunteers, many of them also from this 

(I.) Belknap, 208. The original journal of this expedition, in 
Lovewell's iiand writing, is still preserved among the papers in the 
office of the Secretary ol State, at Boston. Many of the company 
were from this town, but the names of few have been preserved. — 
Beside the officers already named, and those who accompanied them 
to Pequawkett, were Zaccheus Lovewell, Thos. Colburn, Peter 
Powers, Josiah Cummings, Henry Farwell, Wm. Avers. 

(2.) 1 N. H. Hist. Coll. 113. 



S: 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



115 



town, marched into the wilderness. They scout- 
ed around Pemigewassct river and Winnepiseo- 
gee lake for a month but returned without accom- 
plishing any thing. (1.) 

" Encouraged by his former success, and ani- 
mated still," as Penhallow says, "with an un- 
common zeal of doing what service lie could," 
Lovev/ell marched a thud time into the wilder- 
ness, intending to attack the Pequawketts in their 
head-quarters on Saco River. Just before he left, 
it is said, that being at a house in what is now 
Nashua, he was warned to be upon his guard 
against the ambuscades of the enemy. He re- 
plied, "That he did not care for them," and 
bending down a small elm beside which he was 
standing into a bow, declared "that he would 
treat the Indians in the same way." This elm 
is still standing, a venerable and magnificent 
tree. 

He set out from Dunstable with 46 men, includ- 
a chaplain and surgeon. Two of them proving 
lame returned. Another falling sick, they halted 
and built a fort fortified by pointed stakes, 
on the west side of Ossipee Pond. Here the 
surgeon was left with the sick man, and eight of 
the number for a guard. The number of the 
company was now reduced to thirty-four. (2.) 

" The names of this brave company are worthy 
of preservation, and their numerous descendants 
may trace back their descent to such ancestry 
with pride. They were Capt. John Lovewell, 
Lt. Josiah Farwell, Lt. Jonathan Robbins, En- 
sign John Harwood, Ensign Noah Johnson, Rob- 
ert Usher and Saml. Whiting, all of Dunstable; 

(1.) Mass. Records. Tyng's Journal, 1725. 

(2.) The report of the committee upon Love well's tour says that 
he started with 47 men, 3 of whom returned home sick and lame. — 
Military Records and tour, 1728. They had hisjnuster roll before 
them. 



B- 



inir^, 



116 



HISTORY OF 



Ensign Seth Wyman, Corporal Thos. Richard- 
son, Timothy Richardson. Ichabod Johnson and 
Josiah Joimson of Woburn : Eleazer Davis, Jo- 
sepli Farrar, Josiah Davis, Josiah Jones, David 
Melvin, Eleazer Melvin and Jacob Farrar of 
Concord; Chaplain Jonathan Frj^e of Andover ; 
Sarg't Jacob Fnllani of Weston ; Corporal Ed- 
ward Lingfield of Nutfield, (now Londonderry:) 
Jonathan Kittredge and Solomon Keyes of Bil- 
lerica ; John Teffts, Daniel Woods, Thomas 
Woods, John Chamberlain, Elias Barson, Isaac 
Lakin and Joseph Gilson of Groton ; Abiel As- 
ten and Ebenezer Alger of Haverhill, and one 
who deserted them in battle, and whose name 
has been considered nnworthy of being trans- 
mitted to posterity." 

" Pursuing their march northward they came 
to a pond about twenty-two miles distant from 
the fort, and encamped by the side of it. Early 
the next morning May 8th. 1725, (May 19th. 
New Style,) while at their devotions they heard 
the report of a gun, and discovered a single In- 
dian standing on a point of land which runs into 
the pond more than a mile distant. They had 
been alarmed the preceding night by noises round 
their camp, which they imagined were made by 
Indians, and this opinion was now strengthened. 
They suspected that the Indian was there to 
decoy them, and that a body of the enemy was 
in their front. 

A consultation being held they determined to 
march forward, and by encompassing the pond, 
to gain the place where the Indian stood. That 
they might be ready for action they disencum- 
bered themselves of their packs, and left them 
without guard at the northeast end of the pond, 
in a pitch pine plain, where the trees were thin, 
and the brakes at that time of the year small." 



m-. 



m 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



117 



Penli allow adds that fearing a snare, " the Cap- 
tain calling his men together, proposed, whether 
it was best to engage them or not?" They bold- 
ly rephed, '''' That as they had come out on pur- 
pose to 'meet the enem.y^ they woidd rather trust 
Providefice with their lives and die for their 
country^ than return without seeing them.' ' Upon 
this they proceeded." (1.) 

'^ It happened that Lovewell's march had 
crossed a carrying place, by which two parties 
of Indians, consisting of forty-one each, com- 
manded by Pangus and Wawha, who had been 
scon ting down Saco river, were returning to the 
lower village of Peqnawkett, distant about a 
mile and a half from this pond. Having fallen 
on this track they followed it till they came to 
the packs which they removed, and counting 
them found the number of his men to be less than 
their own. They therefore placed themselves 
in ambush to attack them on their return. The 
Indian who stood on the point, and who was re- 
turning to the village by another path, met them 
and received their fire, which he returned and 
wounded Farwell and another with small shot. 
Lieut. Wyman firing again killed him and they 
took his scalp. 

"Seeing no other enemy they returned to the 
place where they had left their packs, and while 
they were looking for them the Indians rose and 
ran towards them with a horrid yelling. A 
smart firing commenced on both sides, it being 
about ten of the clock. Capt. Love well and eight 
more were killed on the spot. Lieut. Farwell 
and tioo others were wounded. Several of the 
Indians fell, but being superior in numbers they 
endeavored to surround the party, who perceiv- 

(1.) 1 N. H. Hist. Coll., 114. 



118 



HISTORY OF 



ing their intention, retreated hoping to reach; a 
shelter behind a point of rocks which ran into 
the pond, and a few large pine trees standing on 
a sandy beach. In this forlorn place they took 
their station. On their right was the mouth of a 
brook at that lime nnfordable ; on their left was 
the rocky point. Their front was partly covered 
with a deep bog, and partly nncovered, and the 
pond was in the rear. The enemy galled them 
in front and in ilank, and had them so completely 
in their power, that had they made a prudent use 
of their advantage, the whole company must 
either have been killed or obliged to surrender at 
discretion, being destitute of a mouthful of sus- 
tenance, and escape being impracticable. 

" Under the conduct of Lieut. Wyman, they 
kept up their fire, and shewed a resolute counte- 
nance all the remainder of the day, during which 
their Chaplain, Jonathan Frye, Ensign Kobbins, 
and one more were mortally wounded. The 
Indians invited them to surrender by holding up 
ropes to them, and endeavored to intimidate them 
by their hideous yells, but they determined to die 
rather than to yield. By their well directed fire 
the number of the savages was thinned, and 
their cries became fainter, till just before night 
they quitted their advantageous ground, carrying 
oif their killed and wounded, and leaving the 
dead bodies of Lovewell and his men unscalped. 
The shattered remnant of this brave company 
collected themselves together, and found tliree 
of their number unable to move from the spot; 
eleven wounded, but able to march; and vine 
only who had received no hurt. All the rest, 
eleven in number, were slain. 

"It was melancholy to leave their dying com- 
panions behind, but there was no possibility of 



:® 



I] NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 119 

removing them. One of them, Ensign Eobbins, 
(I.) desired them to lay his g^ui by him charged, 
that if the Indians should return before his death, 
he might be able to kill one more. After the 
rising of the moon they quitted the fatal spot, 
and directed their march towards the Fort, where 
the surgeon and guard had been left. To their 
great surprise they found it deserted. In the 
beginning of the action one man (whose name 
has not been thought worthy to be transmitted,) 
quitted the field, and fled to the Fort. Here, in 
the style of Job's messengers, he informed 
them of Lovewell's death, and the defeat of the 
whole company, upon which they made the best 
of their way home, leaving a quantity of bread 
and pork, which was a seasonable relief to the 
retreating survivors." 

The fate of the survivors v/as scarcely less 
pitiable than that of the dead. " Lieutenant 
Far well, (of Dunstable) and the Cfiaplain, who 
had the journal of the march in his pocket, 
perished in the woods for want of dressing their 
wounds. Mr. Frye languished three days and 
died." " He v/as a very worthy and promising 
young man," says Penhallow, "and graduated 
at Harvard College in 1733." "Mr. Farwell 
held out until the eleventh day, during which 
time he had nothing to eat but water and a few 
roots which he chewed." Josiah Jones "'after 
long fatigue and hardships got safe into Saco." 
Solomon Keyes "being wounded in three places, 
lost so much blood as disabled him to stand any 
longer ; but by a strange Providence, as he was 
creeping away, he saw a canoe in the pond which 
he rolled himself into, and by a favorable wind, 
without any assistance of his ov/n, was driven 
so many miles on, that he got safe into the Fort, 

"XiT^oTjbins^iivecf^ LmigTl^^ the south part of Nashua. 
" 11 ~ 



120 



-:k 



HISTORY OF 



Eleazer Davis was the last that got in, who after 
wandering about many days, and being nearly 
famished, came at last to Berwick, and thence to 
Portsmouth. The others, after enduring the most 
severe hardships, and meeting many providen- 
tial escapes, came in one after another. They 
were received not only with joy, but were recom- 
pensed for their valor and sufferings, and a gen- 
erous provision was made for the widows and 
children of the slain, 

^' Mr. Wyman, who distinguished himself in 
such a signal manner, was at his return, presen- 
ted with a Captain's commission. Edward Ling- 
field was also made an Ensign, and the General 
Assembly gave the sum of fifteen hundred j^ounds 
to the widows and orphans." (1.) 

''In 1 Samuel, xxxi. Chap., 11, 12, 13 verses," 
says Penhallow, "it is recorded in the immortal 
honor of the men of Jabesh-gilead, that when 
some of their renowned heroes fell by the hands 
of the Philistines, they prepared a decent burial 
for their bodies. Now so soon as the report 
came of Capt. Love well's defeat, ^ho\x\ fifty men 
from New Hampshire, well equipped, marched 
into Pequawkett for the like end, but were not 
so happy as to find them. (2.) But in the Spring 
another company from Dunstable, under the 
command of Col. (Eleazer) Tyng, went to the 
scene of the action, and having found the bodies 
of twelve^ buried them, and carved their names 
upon the trees where the battle was fought. — 
At a little distance they found the Indian graves 
which he opened, in one of which he found the 
celebrated warrior, Paugus, " a vile and bloody 
wretch,^' as Penhallow mildly adds. 

(2.) Under Capt. Joseph Blanchardj of this town, in July, 1725. 
Mass. Military Records, 1725. 



;& 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



121 



The news of Lovewell's defeat and death 
reached Dunstable before the twentieth day of 
May. All was consternation and grief What 
reports were brought by the survivors we know 
not, but immediate attack npon the town was 
feared by the inhabitants. The alarm extended 
through the settlements, and even reached Boston. 
The Governor odered Col. Eleazer Tyng into 
the wilderness to protect the frontiers against the 
anticipated invasion of the victorious foe. The 
state of excitement and alarm which pervaded 
the town may be conjectured from the following 
Petition addressed to the Governor and Council 
of Massachusetts. (1.) 

" The Petition of the Selectmen of Dunstable, 

Humbly SJieweth: 
" That whereas your Honors hath found it necessary to 
order Col. Tyng an<l his men into the woods, on the sad 
occasion of Capt. Lovewell's defeat, we are extremely 
exposed and weak, by reason of so many of our fighting 
men being cut off last summer, and so many killed now 
in the Province's service. We would beg leave to represent 
to your Honors our case as very sad and distressing, hav- 
ing so many soldiers drawn out, and our inhahitants reduced 
to so small a number by the war. Several families have 
removed, and more are under such discouragement, not 
daring to carry on their planting or any other business, 
that they fully design it. We hope your Honors will take 
our deplorable circumstances into your compassionate 
consideration, and order such measures to be taken for our 
defence and support, until our men return, as you in yous* 
wisdom shall think fit. And your Petitioners, as in duty 



bound, will ever pray. 
Samuel French, 
Joseph Snow, 
Joseph French, 
John Lovewell, 
John French, 



John Cummings, 
Selectmen. John Cummings, Jr., 
Nath'l Cummings. 
Jonathan Cummings, 
Jonathan Combs. 



Dtmstable, May 20, 1725. 

John Lovewell, the aged father of Capt. Love- 



(1.) Military Records, J725, pa^e235. 



m= 



122 



HISTORY OF 



well also petitioned the General Assembly at the 
same time, for " some assistance from the country 
to defend his garrison, or that he must leave it 
to the enemy."' (1.) 

The petitions were granted. A guard of 
twenty-live soldiers was posted in town. Com- 
panies of scouts under Capt. Seth| Wyman, 
Capt. Joseph Blanchard and Capt. AVillard, were 
scouring the valleys of the Merrimac and the 
Nashua, during the whole summer and autumn, 
but no enemy appeared. With Joseph, a Mo- 
hawk, as a guide, and Nessa Gawney for an in- 
terpreter, they ranged as far as Penacook, " Win- 
ipisocket," and " Cocheco Path," but excepting 
killing a moose and a bear between Dunstable 
and Penacook, they found nothing. (2.) 

This incursion into the head-quarters of the 
Pequawkctts, and the destruction of Norridge- 
wock, alarmed the Indians so much that they 
resided no more at either place until after the 
peace. Nor after this did they commit any seri- 
ous depredations. Their power was broken. — 
'' Our encountering them at such a distance 
was so terrible and surprising," says Penhallow, 
" that they never formed any body after." — 
These conflicts were the themes of eulogy 
throughout the New England settlemients. The 
names of their actors were upon all men's tongues 
" familiar as household words." The story of 
^'- ID or thy Ca'ptain LovewelV^ was the subject 
of many a ballad, and was sung by every fire- 
side. The mother taught it to her child to 
excite in him a hatred of the '• Indian enemy," 
and to set before him an example of valor and 



(I.) Mass. Militmij Records, 1725: Original Petition, /jo^e 263. 
(2.) Mass. Military Records, 1725 : page 263. 



M 



-^ 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



123 



I patriotism, which he was to imitate when he 
! should become a man. 

Public gratitude kept pace with private enthu- 
siasm. Ill addition to the gifts above cited, other 
donations were made, and the Township of 
Pembroke, first called " LovetveWs Town,''^ v/as 
granted by the General Assembly of Massachu- 
setts, '-in May, 1727', to Capt. Lovewell and 
his brave associates in consideration of iheir 
services against the Indians. The v/hole number 
of grantees was 60, 46 of whom accompanied 
Lovewell in his last march to Pequawkett, and 
the remainder were among the 62 who attended 
him in his first enterprise." (1.) , 

Of this company, as has been said, seven or 
more belonged to Dunstable, including near]y 
all the officers. Of these every man was killed 
or wounded. Capt. Lovewell, Ensign Harwood, 
and Robert Usher were killed on the spot. Lt. 
Robbins was left on the field mortally wounded. 
Lt. Parwell died on the march home. Samuel 
Whitney was wounded, and probably died not 
long after, as no mention of him is found in the 
Records of the town after May, 1725. Noah 
Jolmson was so severely " Vv^ounded in the fight 
as to be disabled " for many years, but was the 
last survivor of the company. In 1727 a pension 
of XIO per annum for seven years was granted 
him by the Colony of Massachusetts, and after 
its expiration in 1734, the sum was increased to 
£15 per annum, and continued for many years. 
(2.) He died at Pembroke, N. H., 13 August, 

(I.) Farmer^s N. H. Gazetteer. Pembroke. — Ttiere seems, how- 
ever, to be an error in this — the Report of the Committee upon the 
subject of the grant says, that the whole number was 88, of Wiioin 
62 were in the second ' expedition, and 26 in the last as well as the 
second expedition. 

(2.) Johnson, it is said, occupied the farm on the south side of 
the Nashua at ils mouth, extending probably as fa r as the house 



a- 



124 



HISTORY OF 



1798, in his hundredth year. The grand children 
of some of these still survive in this town and 
vicinity. 

Several of the ballads which were written to 
commemorate this event, one of the most impor- 
tant in our early history, have been preserved. 
If they do not possess high poetic merit, they 
answered well the purpose for which they were 
designed. " Let me make the ballads of a peo- 
ple," said the great Chatham, " and I care not 
who makes the laws.'' There was deep wisdom 
in the remark, and such ballads, rode though 
they were, nurtured the free, bold, self-sacrificing 
spirit, which Vv^ested Canada from the French 
in 1755, and finally achieved our Independence. 
One of the oldest of these ballads, composed, as 
is said, the year of the fight, " the most beloved 
song in all New England."' is here inserted. (1.) 

SONG OF LOVEWELL'S FIGHT. 

X. 
Of worthy Captain Lovewel! I purpose now to sing, 
How valiantly fie served his country and his king; 
He and liis valiant sohjiers did range the woods full wide, 
And hardships they endured to quell the hidians' pride, 

II. 
'Twas nigh luito Pigv/acket, on the eighth day of Ma}'. 
They spied a rebel hidian soon alter break of day; 
He on a bank was walking, upon a neck of land, 
VVliich leads into a pond as we're made to understand. 

III. 
Our men resolved to have him and travelled two miles 

round, 
Until they met the hidian who boldly stood his ground ; 
Then speaks upCa})tain Lovewell, "Take you good heetl," 

says he, 
" This rogue is to decoy us i very plainly see. 

of .Judge Parker. Lovevv'ell is said to have occupied the farm near 

Luther Taylor's liouse. 

(1 .) Drake's Book of the Indians, 132. 



Bi: 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



125 



IV. 
"The Indians lie in ambush in some place nigh at hand, 
" In order to siirronnd ub upon lliis neck of land ; 
"Therefore we'll march in order, and each man leave his 

pack. 
"That we may briskly fight them when they shall us 

attack," 

V. 

They come unto the liidian who did them thus defy; 
As soon as they come nigh him two guns he did let ily, 
Which wounded Captain Lovev/ell and likewise one man 

more, (1.) 
But when this rogue was running tliey laid him in his gore. 

VI. 

Then having scaljsed the Indian they went back to the spot 
Where they had laid their packs down, but liiere they 

found them not; 
For the Indians having spied them when they them down 

did lay, 
Did seize them for their plunder and carry ihcfu away. 

VII. 
These rebels lay in ambush this very place near by. 
So that an English soldier did one of them es{)y : 
And cried out, " here 's an Indian " ; with that they started 

out 
As fiercely as old lion?, and hideously did sliout. 

Vill. 
With that our valiant English all gave a loud huzza, 
To show llie I'ebel Indians they feared them not a straw; 
So now the tight began as tiercely as could be ; 
The Indians ran up to them but soon were forced to flee. 

IX. 
Then Hpake up Cciptain Lovcucll when first the fight 

began, — 
" Fight on my valiant heroes! you see they fall like rain ;" 
For as we are informed, the Indians were so thick, 
A man could scarcely fire a gun and not some of them hit. 

X. 
Then did the rebels try their best our soldiers to surround, 
But they could not accom[)lish it, because there was a pond, 
To which our men retreated, and covered all the rear; 

(1.) Lt. Parwell, of this town. 



126 



HISTORY OF 



i The ro/?ues were forced to flee thetri although they skulked 
for I'ear. 

ji ^ XL 

li Two lojjTS that were behind them so close together lay, 
j! Withoiii: being discovered they could not get away ; 
Therefore our valiant English they travelled in a row, 
And at u handsome distance as they were wont to go, 

Xlt. 
'Tv\as ten o'clock in the morning \> hen first the fight begun. 
And fiercely did continue till the setting of the sun, 
Excepting that the Indians some hours before 'twas night, 
Drew off into the bushes, and ceased a while to fight. 

XIII. 
But soon again returned in fierce and furious mood, 
Shouting as in the morning, but yet not half so loud ; 
For as vve are informed, so thick and fast they fell, 
Scarce twenty of their number at night did get home well. 

XIV. 
And that our valiant English till midnight there did stJiy, 
To see whether the rebels woidd have another fray ; 
But they no more returning they made off toward their 

home, 
And brought away their wounded as far as they could come. 

XV. 
Of all our valiant English there were but thirty-four, 
And of the rebel Indians there were about fourscoie; 
And sixteen of our English did .safely home return : 
The rest were killed and wounded for which we all must 
mourn. 

XVI. 
Our worthy Captain Lovewell among them there did 

die;(l.) 
They killed Lieutenant llobbins. and wounded good young 

Frye, (2.) 
A\ ho was our English chaplain ; he many Indians slew. 
And some of them he scalped when bullets round him flew. 

(I.) The powder horn worn by Lovewell in this fight is preserved 
in the family, and the cellar oi' the house where he lived is still 
visible a little distance from Salmon Brook in Nashua. 

(2.) Kobbins was from Dunstable. Frye was a son of Rev. Mr. 
Frye of Andover, as before mentioned. Their notions were all 
Jewish, and in slaying the " Heathen Indians " they thought them- 
selves obeying the voice of God. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 127 

XVII. 

Young Fullam, too, I'll mention, because he fought so well, 
Endeavoring to save a man, a sacrifice he fell ; 
And yet our valiant Englishmen in fight were ne'er dis- 
mayed. 
But still they kept their motion, and Wyman Captain made 

XVIII. 
Who shot the old chief Paugus which did the foe defeat; 
Then set his men in order and brought off the retreat; 
And braving many dangers and hardships by the way. 
They safe arrived at Dunstable the thirtieth day of May. 

The Statement in the last verse that Paugus 
was killed by Wyman is not correct. He was 
slain by John Chamberlain, who afterwards set- 
tled in Merrimac. After the heat of the conflict 
was over, weary and faint, Paugus and Cham- 
berlain both went down to the pond to quench 
their thirst, and to wash out their guns which 
had become foul by continued firing. There 
they met and at once recognized each other, for 
Paugus was known personally to many of the 
company. Seeing the useless condition of each 
others' guns, they tacitly agreed to a truce while 
they were cleaning them. 

During this process some words were ex- 
changed, and Paugus said to Chamberlain, " It 
is you or I." Cautiously but with haste they 
proceeded in their work, for it was a case of life or 
death. Paugus had nearly finished loading, and 
was priming his piece, when Chamberlain struck 
the breech of his gun violently upon the ground, 
thus causing it to prime itself, and shot Paugus 
through the heart, the bullet of Paugus at the same 
instant grazing the head of Chamberlain. (1.) 

There is another ballad of more poetic merit, 
written in imitation of the ancient Chevy Chase. 

(1.) Rev. Mr. Syvime's Narrative ofthefght. Alleiis Chelms- 
ford, 37. 



Pi 



128 



HISTORY OF 



As it is somewhat rare and curious, it is thought 
best to insert it. (1.) 

LOVEVVELL'S FJGHT. 

A BALLAD. 

What time the noble Lovewell came, 

With fifty men from Dunstable, 
The cruel Pequ'at tribe to tame, 

With arms and bloodshed terrible,— 

Then did the crimson streams that flowed 

Seem like the waters of the brook. 
That brightly shine, that loudly dash. 

Far down the cliffs of Agiochook. (2.) 

With Lovewell brave, John Harwood came : 
From wife and twin babes hard to part; 

Young Harwood took her by the hand. 
And bound the weeper to his heart. 

"Repress that tear, my Mary dear," 

Said Harwood to his loving wife; 
"]t tries me hard to leave fhee here, 

"And seek in distant woods the strife. 

" When gone, my Mary, think of me, 

" And pray to God that I may be 
" Such as one ought that lives (or thee, 

" And come at last in victory." 

Thus left young Harwood wife and babes; 

With accent wild she bade adieu ; 
It grieved those lovers much to i)art, 

So fond and fair, so kind and true. 

Seth Wyman who in Woburn lived, 

(A marksman he of courage true.) 
Shot the first Indian whom they saw; 

Sheer through his heart the bullet flew. 

The savage liad been seeking game. 
Two guns and eke a knife he bore, 

(1.) Farmer's and Moore's Hist. Coll., 95. Book of the Indians. 
179. • ' 

(2.) The Indian name of the White Mountains. Book of the 
Indians, 191. 



i\ 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 129 



And two black ducks were in his hand, — 
He shrieked and fell to rise no more. 

Anon there eighty Indians rose, 

Who'd hid themselves in ambush dread ; 

Their knives they shook, their guns they aimed. 
The famous Paugus at their head. 

Good Heavens ! They dance the Powow dance ! 

What horrid yells the forests fill ! 
The grim bear crouches to his den, 

The eagle seeks the distant hill. 

•' What means this dance, this Povs^ow dance!" 
Stern Wyman said, with wondrous art; 

He crept full near, his rifle armed. 

And shot the leader through the heart. (1.) 

John Lovewell, Captain of the band, 

His sword he waved that glittered bright : 

For the last time he cheered his men, 
And led them onward to the fight. 

"Fight on! Fight on"! brave Lovewell said: 
" Fight on while Heaven shall give you breath !" 

An Indian ball then peirced him through, 
And Lovewell closed his eyes in death, 

John Farwell died, all bathed in blood, 
When he had fought till set of day; 

And many more, we may not name,' 
Fell in that bloody battle fray. 

When news did come to Harwood's wife 
That he with Lovewell fought and died, — 

Far in the wilds had given his life 

Nor more would in their home abide, — 

Such grief did seize upon her mind, 
Such sorrow filled her faithful breast, 

On earth she ne'er found peace again, 
But followed Harwood to his rest. 

T'was Paugus led the Pequa't tribe ; 
As runs the fox would Paugus run ? 



(1.) The chief Powow or Peiest who ted the cergmonies, 



ir 



130 



HISTORY OF 



x'Vs howls the wild wolf would he howl,— 
A huge bear skin had Paugus on. 

But Chamberlain of Dunstable, 

(One whom a savage ne'er shall slay, — ) 

Met Paugus by the water side, 
And shot hiai dead upon that day. 

Good Heavens ! is this a time for prayer ? 

Is this a time to worship God ? 
When Lovewell's men are dying fast. 

And Paugus' tribe hath felt the rod. 

The Chaplain's name was Jonathan Frye ; 

in Andover his father dwelt; 
And oft with Lovewell's men he'd prayed 

Before the mortal wound he felt. 

A man he was of comely form, 

Polished and brave, well learned and kind : 
Old Harvard's learned walls he left 

Far in the wilds a grave to find. 

Ah ! now his blood red arm he lifts; 

His closing lids he tries to raise : 
And speak once more before he dies, 

In supplication and in praise. 

He prays kind heaven to grant success. 
Brave Lovewell's men to guide and bless, 

And when they've shed their heart blood true 
To raise them all to haj)piness. 

"Come hither, Farwell," said young Frye; 

" You see that I'm about to die ; 
" Now for the love I bear to you, 

"When cold in death my bones shall lie; 

" Go thou and see my parents dear, 
" And tell them you stood by me here ; 

" Console tliem when they cry, alas ! 
"And wipe away the falling tear." 

Lieutenant Farwell took bis hand, 
His arm around his neck he threw, 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



131 



And said, " brave Chaplain I could wish 
That heaven had made me die for you." 

The Chaplain on kind FarwelFs breast, 

Bloody and languishing he fell; 
Nor after this said more, but this, 

" i love thee soldier; fare thee well !" 

Ah! many a wife shall rend her hair, 
And many a child cry out " wo is me !" 

When messengers the news shall bear 
Of Loveweli's dear bought victory. 

With footsteps slow shall travellers go 

Where Loveweli's Pond shines clear and bright. 

And mark the place where those are laid 
Who fell in Loveweli's bloody fight. 

Old men shall shake their head and say, 

" Sad was the hour and terrible, 
When Lovewell brave 'gainst Paugus went, 

With fifty men from 13unstable." 

Thus ended " Lovewell's War." Deep and 
universal was the gratitude at the restoration 
of peace. Well might the people rejoice. For 
fifty years had the war been raging with little 
cessation, and with a series of surprises, devas- 
tations and massacres which seemed to threaten 
annihilation. " The scene of this desperate and 
bloody action is often visited with interest to 
this day ; and the names of those who survived 
are yet repeated with emotions of grateful exul- 
tation." (1.) And a century after upon that spot 
strangers came together, from a broad and popu- 
lous region won from the savages in that conflict, 
to pay their tribute of gratitude, with festive cel- 
ebration, song, and eulogy to the waning memory 
of " Lovewell's Fight." (2.) 

(l.) North American Revieio. 

(2.) Its centennial anniversary was celebrated on the spot of iho 
Figlit, in Fryeburg, Me., May 19. 1825, when an address was de- 
livered by Charles S. Davis, Esq., of Portland. 



»F 



132 HISTORY OF 



After this fight no other attack was made by 
the Indians upon this town, although many years 
subsequently, during the French Wars, the in- 
habitants were alarmed at the ravages committed 
in the neighborhood at Bedford, Pembroke, Dun- 
barton, Concord, and upon Connecticut River. 
Garrisons were built, and armed scouts kept out 
constantly, but the frontiers were now beyond 
us. Sometimes, indeed, individual Indians ap- 
peared mysteriously, seeking the life of some 
oftending settler who had slain a relative, to 
appease his restless spirit by the sacrifice of 
" blood for blood." Such tales they tell of 
Chamberlain, the slayer of Paugus, of Ford, and 
others noted in fight, and how, mysteriously 
disappearing, the layer in wait became the victim. 

Perilous conflicts, providential escapes and 
strange adventures v/ere thickly woven in the 
romance of our early history, but the remem- 
brance of most of them has passed away utterly, 
and of others but dim and doubtful traditionary 
shadows remain. These traditions, handed down 
from the survivors long since departed, too direct 
and circumstantial to be entirely fictitious, and 
fixing neither time, nor place, nor actors of the 
scene, meet the enquirer at every step in his in- 
vestigations, and excite longings and questions 
which cannot be gratified. If there were indeed 
'' tongues in trees, books in the running brooks," 
and " sermons in stones," what thrilling tales 
might not some of our old denizens of field and 
forest unfold 1 

Many anecdotes which have been handed 
down, if not entirely authentic, are at ^ least 
characteristic of the times in which they are said 
to have occurred, and probably possess some 
foundations. The following are specimens : 



-i 



m===== '- 77^ 

NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. i-06 



A party of Indians, it is said, once came sud- 
denly npon Ford, " the Indian Fighter," so that 
he had no chance to escape. He was splitting 
logs for rails, and had just driven in his wedge 
and partly opened a log. Pretending to be very 
anxious to complete the work, he requested them 
to put their hands in the cleft, and pull it open, 
while he drove in the wedge. Suspecting noth- 
ing they did so, but watching his opportunity 
he dexterously knocked the wtdge out instead 
of i7i. The log closed tight upon their fingers, 
and held them fast, and the whole party became 
his prisoners. 

'' At a later period an Indian appeared in Dun- 
stable enquiring for ' Joe Snow,' who at some 
former time had slain his kinsman. The duty 
of revenge had long been transmitted, and the 
desire nourished ; and the descendants of the 
aggrieved and restless warrior had now come 
thus far through the wilderness, even from Can- 
ada, guided by tradition alone, to avenge and 
pacify his spirit. This errand, however, was 
vain, for 'Joe Snow' had long ago departed." 

At some period during " Lovewell's War," 
William Cummings of this town, was wounded 
by the Indians, but how, when, or where, no 
record tells. For his wounds he received the 
sum of £10 from the Colonial Treasury. (1.) 

" An Indian once called upon Chamberlain at 
his saw mill, intending to way-lay him on his 
return homeward at nightfall, through the forest. 
It was a time of peace, but Chamberlain suspect- 
ed the character of his pretended friend, and the 
motive of his visit. While engaged in his work, 
he invited the Indian to examine the wheelpit, 

(I.) Mass. Military Records, 1734. 



134 



HISTORY OF 



and seizing the opportunity, knocked him on the 
head with a handspike without compunction.'* 

'' Among those indefinite traditions which have 
been assigned to a period subsequent to Love- 
welPs War, is the following: — A party once 
went from this town to the Eastward upon a 
hunting expedition in early winter. While ab- 
sent they were attacked by a party of predatory 
Indians, and nearly all of them were killed. A 
few escaped and returned home bringing the 
sad tidings of the death of their companions 
and neighbors. 

" One man, however, who was left in the field 
for dead, survived. His name was Whitney, 
and he lived in what is now the southerly part of 
Nashua, near Long Hill. He was loo weak to 
think of returning home alone through the track- 
less and unpeopled forest, so he built him a hut 
of logs, and bark, and branches of trees, and 
there passed the winter, subsisting chiefly on 
roots and cranberries. In the Spring another 
party went out to find and bury the dead, and 
came to this hut which they supposed to be that 
of an Indian. As they approached they saw 
something stir within it. One of the party fired, 
— a groan followed, but the victim, to their great 
astonishment and grief, proved to be the unfortu- 
nate Wliitney. He was just preparing to return 
home, having survived his wounds and all the 
perils and hardships of a winter in the wilder- 
ness, only to perish by the hands of his own 
friends and tov/nsmen." 



5?r 



M 



CHAPTER IX. 



m 



CIVIL HISTORY OF THE TOWN UNTIL ITS DIVI- 
SION BY THE NEW STATE LINE IN 1741. 

The settlement, of the town which had been 
so much and so long retarded, — which for forii/ 
years had scarcely advanced at all, now increased 
rapidly. But the inhabitants were extremely 
poor. In addition to the heavy public taxes 
occasioned by the long and expensive Indian 
Wars, they had suffered much from the incur- 
sions of the enemy — from the loss of the ransoms 
paid for the release of their captive friends, and 
from the obstruction of all regular employment. 

In consideration of the universal scarcity of 
money, the General Assembly of Massachusetts 
issued bills of credit in 1721 to the amount of 
£50,000, to be distributed among the several 
towns in proportion to the public taxes. They 
answered the purpose of money for the time. — 
Nov. 7, 1721, Lt. Henry Farwell and Joseph 
Blanchard were appointed Trustees to receive 
and loan out " the share" of this town, in such 
sums that "no man shall have more than ^ive 
pounds, and no man less than three pounds/' 
and shall pay five per cent interest for the use 
of the same to the Town. 

In 1727 the General Assembly, finding this 
mode of making money popular, issued £60,000 
more. The share belonging to this town was 
received and loaned to Rev. Mr. Prentice, to be 

— ~ *J2 



«l- 



136 



HISTORY OF 



applied in payment of his future salary as it 
should become due. Tlius early and easily did 
men discover and adopt the practice of throwing 
their debts upon posterity. The consequence 
of these issues was a ruinous depreciation in 
their value — a nominal rise in the value of every 
species of property, speculation, and at last uni- 
versal distress. In 1750 the bills \vere worth 
but 12 per cent. 

The general poverty of the inhabitants may 
also be inferred from the fact, I hat no represen- 
lathe was sent to the General Assembly, although 
directed so to do, the Town voting regularly 
from 1693 to 1733 "not to send.'' Whenever 
the interests of the Town were in danger, 
however, a special agent was sent to see that 
they were protected. As an illustration of the" 
feelings and peculiarities of those times it may 
be added, that, February 1, 1631, it w^as "voted 
not to choose any person as Representative, deem- 
ing ourselves not obliged by Laic:'' But in order 
to be certain as to their rights and duties, the 
next year they took legal advice upon this subject, 
and again voted " not to send, finding the Toum 
not obliged by Law.'^ At that time the repre- 
sentative received no compensation for attend- 
ance, but his expenses were paid by the town. 
In 1718 the compensation was fixed by statute 
at three shillings per day. At one period the 
Gq^eral Assembly hired an inn- keeper to board 
all of the members at a stipulated price per day, 
including wine, " but not to exceed one cup of 
sack each."' This was done not only for econo- 
my, but for the greater despatch of business. 

For many years little occurred here which 
would be of general interest. The records are 
chiefly valuable as serving to shew the contrast 



7=Z» 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



137 



between the past and the present, and the slow 
and painful steps by which towns arrive at ma- 
turity. Some memoranda of this period, there- 
fore, may serve to amuse and perhaps instruct 
the curious reader. 

In 1716 a committee was appointed by the 
town to lay out a road to Dracut, and " to state 
the Country road from Capt. Tyng's to Nasha- 
way River.'' Its width was declared to be 
" four rods.'" 

''Sept. 2, 1718, voted, tiiat John Lovewell 
Senior, and his son John, [the Hero of Pequawk- 
ett,] should hav liberty to bild a dam in the lush- 
way over Salmon Brook, not to incommodate the 
highway." This was at the little bridge near 
the house of Miss AUds, where the mud sills 
are still visible, and the '' highicay^'' was the 
"Country road" just mentioned. 

•' March 31, 1819, Joseph French was chosen 
to imike coffins where there be need for the year 
ensuing." Friendly Indians still lived here, and 
this singular vote may have referred to them, as 
we find a charge made by him not long after, 
" for Jacob Indian's coffin 75." 

The Selectmen and other persons in the em- 
ployment of the town at this period charged 56-. 
per' day for their services. 

The humble Meeting House vv^iicli had served 
I for the worship of all the inhabitants, since no 
I division into sects existed, was a rude, one story, 
unsteepled edifice, and would shew but poorly 
beside the erections of the present day. It was 
divided by an aisle in the centre, with rows of 
benches on either side, one of which was appro- 
priated for the use of the women, and the other 






138 



HISTORY OF 



for the use of the men. Such a separation was 
not unfrequent in those primitive days. (1.) 

But even among our grave and simple fore- 
fathers, hixury and ambition crept in. March 
2, 1720, it was " Voted that Lt. Henry Farwell 
and Joseph Blanchard should hav the hbety to 
erect for themselves two Pewes on there own 
charge at the west end of the Meeting House." 
The example was contagious, so dangerous is a 
precedent. If Lt. Farwell and Capt. Blanchard 
could afford "Pewes," why might not others? 
May 18, 1720, it was "Voted that there be four 
Pewes erected in our Meeting House ; one on the 
back side of the lowermost seats, and one seat 
to be taken up: Sargt. Colburn, one pew; Sargt. 
Perham, one pew ; Nathaniel Cummings, one 
pew : Oliver Farwell, one pew." ^ 

The first pauper in town appears to have 
been Joseph Hassell, a son probably of him who 
was slain by the Indians in 1691. He was sup- 
ported by the town, who appointed a person " to 
take care of^^ him in 1722 or 1723. 

In 1723 Grand Jurymen were chosen by the 
town at the annual meeting by ballot. Tliis 



(1.) The iollowing is a description of the early Bleeting Houses 
as drawn up by Rev. Leonard Bacon of New Haven : — " Immedi- 
ately before the pulpit, and facing the Congregation was an elevated 
seat for the ruling elder, and before that, somewhat lower, was a 
seat for the Deacons behind the Communion Table. On the floor 
of the house there were neither pews nor slips, but plain seats. — 
On each side of what we may call the centre aisle were nine seats 
of sufficient length to accommodate five or six persons. On each 
side of the pulpit at the end were five cross seals, and another 
shorter than the five. Along each wall of the house, between the 
cross scats and the side door, sis seats. 

The men and women were seated separately, on opposite sides 
of the house, and every one according to his office, or his age, or his 
rank in society, and his place was assigned by a committee ap- 
pointed for that purpose. The children and young people at the 
first seating seem to have been left to find their own places, away 
from their parents, in that part of the house which was not occu- 
pied with seats prepared at the town's expense." 



m^- 



M 



%- 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



139 



was probably done as a precaution against the 
encroachments of the officers of the crown, and 
as a safeguard of popular rights. One tribunal 
was secure from royal influence, and no indi- 
vidual could be unjustly condemned. This mode 
of choice continued till after the revolution, and 
was a source of great annoyance to the enemies 
of America, who complained that the Towns 
chose the most active opponents of England for 
their Grand Jurors, so that those guilty of politi- 
cal offences could not be indicted. (1.) 

In 1723 the choice of a Tijthingman, Thomas 
Blanchard, is first recorded. The Town raised 
£20 [about $70] to defray all town expenses, 
and the collector had "3 pence in the pound [1 
1-4 per cent] for gathering all Town rates for ye 
year." 

In 1724 the Town was again called upon to 
assist in keeping " the great bridge in Billerica 
in good repare," and chose Henry Farwell " to 
jine with the committy appinted " for that pur- 
pose. 1729 they united with Dracut, Chelms- 
ford, and Billerica in further repairs, and 1731 
expended £3 IO5. for the same purpose. This 
bridge was over the Concord river on the main 
road to Boston, and of great importance. 

The method of voting for all the more impor- 
tant officers was " by ballot^^^ while others of 
less importance were chosen " by holding up of 
ye hands." So early did our forefathers recog- 
nize that truly republican principle and safeguard 
of popular rights, the secret ballot. 

In those days offices were not only places of 
honor and profit, but also of good cheer, 'i hose 

(1.) Gov. Hutchinson's Letters. 



Sh 



140 



HISTORY OF 



were glorious times for dignitaries. Among the 
accounts presented for acceptance, and wliicli 
were allowed and paid by the Town without 
scruple, we find the following : 

"Town of Dunstable to Samuel French, Dr 
1726. To dining the Selectmen (3 meals, £0 6s Od 
for 7'hu7)i and cyder had at Mr 
William Lund's fo7- the Selectmen, 12 6." 

We are accustomed to look back upon that 
early period as an age of primitive simplicity 
and virtue. Yet what would be said of such 
an account in these Temperance days? But 
their faults were only tliose of rude and hardy 
pioneers, and of the age, and we would institute 
no comparison. They laid a noble foundation 
for our Republic. " Every man who was for/y 
years old," says Belknap, ^'' had seen twenty 
years ot war." Such continual dangers and 
hardships, although affording no good school for 
cultivation and refinement, furnished a race 
of hardy soldiers and sterling patriots for the 
'•times that tried men's souls." 

In March, 1727, the town raised '-eight pounds 
for': building a boat," and it was directed " that 
Capt. Blanchard should return the boat within 
the year to the Town." This was probably for 
a Ferry-boat over the Merrimac at the Blanch- 
ard farm, [now Little's] as Hudson was then 
included in Dunstable, and a few settlers had 
located themselves on that side of the river. — 
The bridge existed for a century after. 

October 29 and 30, 1727, at night a shock of 
an earthquake Avas felt here. It effected chiefly 
" the towns upon the Merrimac." " The shock 
was very loud and was attended with a terrible 
noise like thunder. The houses trembled as if 
they were falling. Divers chimnies were crack- 






NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



141 



ed, and some had their tops broken off. Flashes 
of light broke out of the earth, and the earth 
broke open." The shocks lasted until February, 
1728. (1.) 

At this time taverners were licensed by the 
County-Court. In the fall of 1727, Capt. Joseph 
Blanchard, who had been the inn-keeper of the 
town for many years, died, and as the Court was 
not in session in December, 1727, Henry Farwell 
Jr., petitioned the General Assembly for a license 
which was granted. (2.) 

In 1728 a boom was built across Merrmiac 
River by the town. 

Among the early settlers of New England the 
principles of jurisprudence were but little known, 
and there were few lawyers. The jurisdiction 
of courts of law was limited, and as many of the 
judges had received no preparatory legal educa- 
tion to fit them for the bench, but were taken 
directly from the counting room or camp, all 
settled rules of law were of course unknown and 
disregarded. The people, therefore, in all cases 
of difiiculty applied at once to the General As- 
sembly, who assumed and exercised jurisdiction 
in imitation of the English Parliament, as a 
court of Errors and of Chancery in all cases 
whatsoever, where their assistance was needed 
for the purposes of Justice. 

A committee having been appointed by the 
town to purchase the ministerial farm of Rev. 
Mr. Coflin as a parsonage for Mr. Prentice, and 
refusing to convey it as directed, the Town ap- 
plied to the General Court of Massachusetts by a 
'•petition for some redress, if it may be obtained, 

(I.) 4 N. H. Hist. Coll., 93. 

(2.) Mass. Assembly Records, 1727. 



142 



HISTORY OF 



touching the premises." This was not done, 
however, without a division, and several persons 
entered their desent [dissent] or protest against 
the proceeding. 

The amount of taxes raised from 1726 to 1733 
for the general expenses of the Town, inchiding 
the support of the ministry, varied from $250 to 
$400 per year. 

The subject of education was one of deep 
interest to the early settlers of New England. — 
To them must be awarded the enviable distinc- 
tion of their being the first to lay down the noble 
principle, that " every child should be taught to 
read and write," and' the first to establish com- 
mon schools to carry it into effect. It was ever 
the custom, and became the law in Puritan New 
England as early as 1642, that "none of the 
brethren should suflTer so much barbarism in their 
families, as not to teach their children and ap- 
prentices so much learning, as may enable them 
perfectly to read the English Language." A 
line of 20 shillings was imposed for every neg- 
lect, and, if after reproof by the Selectmen, they 
still neglected this duty, the children were to be 
taken from them, and bound out, males until 21, 
and females until 18 years of age. 

In 1646 it was enacted that "if any child 
above 16 years old, and of sufficient understand- 
ing, shall curse or smite his natural father or 
mother, he shall be put to death, unless it can 
he sufficiently testified^ that the parents have been 

VERY UNCHRISTIANLY NEGLIGENT LNf THE EDUCATION 

OF SUCH CHILDREN." This was the Mosaic Law, 
but with an important and characteristic quali- 
fication. 

" To the end that learning may not be buried 
in the graves of our forefathers," it was ordered 



=«. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, ScC. 143 



in 1647, "that every township, after the Lord 
hath increased them to the number of Jiffy house- 
holders, shall appoint one to teach all the children 
to read and ivrite : And when any town shall 
increase to the number of one hundred families 
they shall set up a grammar school, the master 
whereof being able to instruct youth so far as 
they may be fitted for the university." These 
provisions, furnishing the best academic educa- 
tion to every child gratuitously, go far beyond 
our present School Laws, and we might do v/eil 
to retrace our steps. For non-compliance the 
Towns were liable to indictment, and a fine v/as 
imposed for the benefit of the school in the next 
Town. 

One reason which determined the Puritans 
upon a removal from Leyden v/as, " That the 
place being of great licentiousness and liberty to 
children, they could not educate them; nor could 
they give them due correction without reproof or 
reproach from their neighbors." Their- ideas 
of government, family and national, were all 
derived from the Mosaic code, and, as was said 
of the Connecticut settlers, they " agreed to take 
the laws of God for their guide until they had 
time to make better." 

But, deeply as the settlers felt the importance 
of Education, it was no easy matter in a frontier 
town, where a fierce Indian War was raging, 
when the inhabitants dwelt in garrisons and the 
settlement was every day liable to an attack, to 
establish common schools. The dense forest, 
where the quiet of the school room might be 
broken at any time by the yell of the savage, 
v/as no fitting time or place for helpless children ; 
still at home education was not neglected, as the 
state of our ancient records everywhere attests. 

' ^ -T3 ^=^- 



^^ 



144 



HISTORY OF 



So much were the inhabitants scattered that no 
school was kept in Town until 1730. In that 
year, it seems, the Town having increased to the 
requisite number of ^^ fifty house-holders j'''' and 
having neglected to provide a teacher according 
to Law, had been indicted by the Grand Jury. 
Nov. 3, 1730, it was accordingly voted, that " it 
be left with the selectmen to provide and agree 
with a person to keep a writing school in the town 
directly^'; and, that "the sum of Ten pounds 
be granted and raised for defraying the charges 
in the last mentioned concern and other Town 
charges.^^ How liberal this provision was we 
may judge from the fact that the same sum, and 
even more, had been annually raised for Town 
charges alone, and that Dunstable then included 
the greater part of Hollis and Hudson within its 
limits ! 

How many inhabitants the Town then con- 
tained we are unable to ascertain. If there were 
fifty house-holders or families, the number was 
probably about tido hundred and fifty. How 
slow was the increase and how disastrous must 
have been the effect of the long Indian Wars, 
we may conjecture when we remember that as 
far back as 1680, there were thirty families, or 
nearly one hundred and fifty inhabitants, most 
of whom were settled within the present limits 
of Nashua. 

After this indictment, however, had been ar- 
ranged, it appears that the Town relapsed into 
its ancient neglect and no further notice was 
taken of it. No record of any vote to raise 
money for the support of Schools, or to choose 
any school committee, or to build any school- 
house, or any allusion to the subject of schools 
is found for many years. The Town was too 



@= 



w 



■^: 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 145 

much distracted, at this period, perhaps, by ex- 
citing religious and sectional questions, to attend 
to or agree upon any general plan of education. 
The inhabitants of Hollis and Hudson were de- 
sirous of being erected into separate townships. 
Then came the question of erecting '' a decent 
meeting house," and similar divisions ensued. 

The controversies about the boundary line 
between New Hampshire and Massachusetts, 
which finally divided Dunstable nearly in the 
middle, leaving one half of the territory within 
the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, and transfer- 
ring the northern portion, with a large majority 
of the inhabitants, to New Hampshire, gave rise 
to an excitement still more intense and protracted. 
Then followed a succession of sectarian disputes 
about the Orthodox and Neta Lights, Congrega- 
tionalists and Presbyterians, all of which were 
discussed and decided in Town meetings.— 7 
These, and similar controversies, with their con- 
sequent victories and defeats, protests and recon- 
siderations must have occupied their time suffi- 
ciently to prevent their union upon any subject, 
where there might be conflicting interests or pre- 
judices. 

After Lovevv'-ell's War, so great was the security 
felt by the settlers, that they plunged boldly into 
the wilderness in every direction. In July, 
1729, the lands lying three miles north and south 
on Merrimac River, extending three miles east 
and four miles west of it, and bounded southerly 
by the Souhegan, [now the northerly part of 
Merrimac] were granted to Joseph Blanchard 
and others. Even as early as May, 1726, a set- 
tlement was commenced at Concord. In Dun- 
stable the outlands were taken up, and soon the 
wilderness was alive with population. So nu- 
merous had they become that " for greater 



146 



HISTORY OF 



convenience of public worship ", ihey desired 
on every hand to be erected into townships. 

In 1731 the inhabitants on the east side of the 
Merrimac petitioned the town to be set off, which 
was granted to take effect " whenever the Gen- 
eral Court should think it advisable/"' Leave 
was obtained accordingly from the Assembly of 
Massachusetts, and the new township was called 
Nottinghain. On the establishment of the bound- 
ary line it fell within the State of New Hamp- 
shire, obtained a new charter in 1746, and 
changed its name to Nottingham.-West, there 
being already a JNottingham in the eastern section 
of the State. 

In 1732 the inhabitants on the northerly side 
of Nashua River petitioned to be set off also with 
Brentcn's Farm, but the petition was not granted 
by the town. Iti 1733, however, part of the town 
lying west of Merrimac River was incorporated 
by the General Assembly into a township by the 
name of Rumford, but soon after was called 
Merrimac. 

July 3, 1734, Litchfield was incorporated. — 
In the petition for incorporation, dated May, 
1734, and signed by " x\quila Underwood for 
the Town "', it is stated, as a reason for the grant, 
that they have '* supported a minister for some 
time." 

While the jealousies and divisions, to which 
reference has been made, were existing in such 
strength, " the old meeting house," it seems, 
had grown so old and out of repair, as not to be 
''^decent.'' Upon a vote taken in 1732 whether 
the town '' would build a decent meeting house 
or rectify and mend the old one ", it was decided 
not to " rec^i/y ", but to build. After quarrel- 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 147 

ling a year and holding various meetings, it was 
voted to build it "about 4 rods westward of 
where the meeting house now stands ", upon 
which 19 persons, chiefly from that part of the 
town now lying in Massachusetts, entered their 
dissent of record against the location. 

In 1736 Hollis was set off from Dunstable by 
the name of " ^Ae rvesi parish of D unstable ^^ ; 
but after the establishment of the boundary line, 
it received a new act of incorporation from the 
State of New Hampshire, by the name of Hollis. 
Its Indian name was Nissitisset. In the mean 
lime settlements were extending rapidly all 
around, and the forest v/as bowing before the 
onward tread of civiUzation. In 1734, Amherst 
was settled, and in 1736 abridge was built across 
Souhegan River, then the northerly boundary 
of Dunstable, and a road laid out and built 
" from the bridge to Dunstable meeting house." 

In 1732 Townsend was incorporated, taking 
in the southerly part of the town, including 
Pepperell. Thus township after township had 
become parcelled out from the original body of jj 
''old Dunstable", until in 1740 the broad and |j 
goodly plantation was reduced to that portion }i 
only which is now embraced within the limits 
of Nashua and Nashville, Tyngsborough and 
Dunstable. At length, after a long and violent 
controversy, and against the wishes of the inhab- 
itants, the boundary line between New Hamp- 
shire and Massachusetts was established in 1741. 
severing Dunstable very nearly in the middle^ 
and leaving the present towns of Nashua and 
Nashville within the limits of New Hampshire. 
With the exception of a small section set off to 
Hollis, this portion retains the territory which it 



148 



HISTORY OF 



had in 1741, and contains by conapiUation, about 
18,878 acres. 



After the death of Rev. Mr. Prentice, Rer, 
Josiah Swan received a call to settle over the 
church and town. He accepted the call, and 
was ordained Dec. 27, 1738. Mr. Swan is said 
to have been a native of Dunstable, and grad- 
uated at Harvard in 1733. In 1739 he married 
Jane [Mr. Sperry says erroneously Kachael,] 
Bianchard, daughter of Joseph Blanchard, Esq., 
of this town. In 1741, however, on the division 
of the town by the new boundary, it became 
more difficult to support a minister. Not long 
afterwards the sect then called " New Lights '% 
but since known as Methodists, appeared, and a 
division in his society ensued. The churches 
were "infected with lay exhorters, and some 
ministers who have left their parishes and 
charges and undertaken to play the bishop in 
another man's diocese", as the regular clergy 
complained, and "distracted by such persons 
exhorting and preaching in private houses with- 
out the consent of the stated pastor." (1.) 

We have seen that the question of building a 
new meeting house was discussed as far back as 
1732, and a vote taken fixing its location. In 
November, 1734, John Kendall and others re- 
monstrated to the General Assembly against its 
location, and asked for a committee. (2.) The 
records of the town from 1733 to 1746 are lost, 
but it is known that the vole was inoperative 
and the house not built until 1738, when Mr. 
Swan was settled. It stood near the old burying 
ground not far from the State line, having been 
built for the accommodation of the original town- 



(1.) Allen's Clielmsford, 116. 

(2.) Ecclesiastical Records, \7Zi,pa.ge 70. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 149 

ship. Immediately after the division of the 
town, it became necessary to erect a new meeting 
house in a more central situation. But so diverse 
were the interests and the feelings of our then 
widely scattered population, that no location was 
satisfactory. June 20. 1746, the town voted 
" that the ^j/ace of preaching ilie gospel this 
Slimmer be at EpJiraim Lund's ham.'' After 
sundry votes, protests and reconsiderations, com- 
mittees, reports and compromises, the town voted 
to accept the proposal of Jona. Lovewell and 
others to build the meeting house on their own 
account, and to have the liberty of selling all the 
wall pews for their own benefit. 

The House was built accordingly in the au- 
tumn of 1747. "on a spot of rlsmg ground 
about six rods uest of the mahi road''', which is 
a few rods northerly of the present South meet- 
ing house. It was about twenty-eight feet by 
forty ; had a small gallery, and was divided like 
the old one, into the "men's side" and the 
'• women's side '' 



:» 



CHAPTER X. 



lilSTORV OF DUNSTABLE, N. H., TO THE OLD 
FRENCH WAR. 

April 4, 1746. the town was first incorporated 
by the State of New Hampshire, having previ- 
ously acted under their charter, obtained from 
the General Court of Massachusetts, in 167o. — 
It retained the ancient name of Dunstable. 

In 1746 the great road to Tyngsborough was 
stated anew and recorded. There would seem 
to have been but few houses upon this road at 
that time. The foiiowing are all that are men- 
tioned : — (^apt. Joseph French's house was 8 
rods north of the State line; Col. Joseph Blanch- 
ard's house, 300 rods north of the State line, and 29 
rods south of "Cummings's Brook "; Cyrus Bald- 
win's near Col. Blanchard's ; John Searles' 
house 66 rods north of Cummings's Brook ; Hen- 
ry Adams's 80 rods north of Searles' house; the 
old ditch which led to the Fort was 90 rods north 
of Adams's house ; Thomas Harwocd's house 
was 90 rods north of the old ditch; no other 
house mentioned between Harwood'sand Nashua 
River, excepting Jonathan Lovewell's, which 
was 2S3 rods south of the River, or at the 
Harbor, south of Salmon Brook. 

About this time the difficulties with Mr. Swan 
having increased, he was dismissed. He did not 
leave town, however, immediately, for we find 



Ik: 



-3 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 151 

his name recorded the next year as having voted 
against a successor. He settled in full with the 
town. March 2, 1747. He did not remain here 
long, but returned to Lancaster, Mass., his former 
place of residence. Here he was engaged in the 
tuition of a school, which had been his occupa- 
tion previous to his entrance upon the ministry, 
and became " a famous teacher." He remained 
at Lancaster until about 1760, when he removed 
to Walpole, N. FI., where he died. (1.) 

Of his character little is known, and a single 
anecdote has reached us. From this, however, 
from his dealings with the town in regard to his 
salary, and from the amount of his taxes, for he 
owned a farm, we may infer that he amassed 
some property, and was a prudent, stirring, 
thrifty, but not over spiritual man. One Sabbath 
morning, it is said, during the latter part of his 
ministry, while old Mr. Lovewell was aUve, he 
forgot the day and ordered his hired men to their 
work. They objected, telling him it was Sunday. 
He would not believe it, but finally, says he, 
"if it is Sunday, we shall soon see old father 
Lovewell coming up the hill " : and sure enough, 
punctual as the clock to the hour, the old man, 
then more than a hundred years of age, but v/ho 
never missed a Sunday, was seen making his 
way to church; and Mr. Swan was convinced 
of his mistake. 

At this time there was neither school nor 
schoolhouse in town. Sept. 29, 1746, it was 
voted that " Jona. Lovewell be desired to hire 
a school master until the next March for this 
town, upon the cost and charge of the town." — 
Two dwelling houses, one in the northern and 
one in the southern portions of the town, were 

(1.) Willard^s History of Lancaster, citing' 2 Mass. Hist. Coll. ,55. 



~M 



152 



HISTORY OF 



=1^ 



designated, in which the school should be kept, 
"if they could be obtained." But one teacher 
was employed, and he was to keep school half 
of the time at each place. The number of in- 
habitants was probabl}^ about 400. 

During this year the Indians committed much 
havoc in the frontier towns, around and above us. 
Many settlements above us were nearly or quite 
deserted. " The defenceless state they were in 
obliged them all, namely, Peterborough, Salem 
Canada, [Lyndeborough,] New Boston and Hills- 
borough, [so called,] entirely to draw off, as well 
as the forts on the Connecticut river. (1.) In 
the winter of 1745 and 1746 scouts were fur- 
nished by this State and Massachusetts for the 
protection of those towns. 

In May, 1747, the inhabitants of Souhegan 
West, [Amherst,] and Monson, [a town formerly 
lying between Amherst and Ilollis, afterwards 
divided and annexed to those towns,] petitioned 
Gov. Wentworth for a guard, being '• in imminent 
danger." The petition was granted, and his 
" Excellency was desired to give orders for en- 
listing or impressing fifteen good and efficient 
men, to scout and guard, under proper officers, 
said Souhegan West and Monson, till the twen- 
tieth day of October next, if need be, and that 
said men be shifted once a month." 

It was about this time, probably, that Jonathan 
Farwell and Taylor were taken captive b}^ the 
Indians, while hunting in the south part of this 
town. They were carried to Canada, and sold 
to the French, where they remained in captivity 
three years ; but finally succeded in obtaining 
their release, and returned to their friends. A 
daughter of Farwell, Mrs, Rachael Harris, a 

(I.) Province Records, 1747. 5 N. H. Hist. Coll., 253. 



lr=^ 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



153 



grand daughter also of Noah Johnson, one of 



still 



iving [1840J in this 
Swan, 



Lovewell's men, is 
town. 

After the dismission of Mr. Swan, in May, 
1747, Rev. Samuel Bird preached here. Aug. 
31, 1747, he received a call to settle, and was 
soon after ordained. By the terms of his contract 
he was to have "100 ounces of coined silver^ 
Troy weight, sterling alloy, or the full value 
thereof in bills of public credit," or about 
$100,00 yearly, for his salary, provided " that 
he preach a lecture once in three months at least 
in this town^^^ and " visit and catechise the 
people." At this choice there was much dissat- 
isfaction, and the town was nearly equally di- 
vided. 

Mr. Bird was a '^ New Light," and his ordi- 
nation was a triumph. His friends, however, at 
the head of whom was Jonathan Lovewell, stood 
by him, and by them the new meeting house, 
before mentioned, was erected. His opponents, 
at the head of whom was Col. Blanchard, com- 
plained of the injustice of being compelled to 
pay Mr. Bird, and all who were dissatisfied 
were freely excused. But the quarrel was sec- 
tarian, and could not be appeased. A division 
in the church ensued, and a new church was 
organized, which worshipped in the old meeting 
house, in conjunction with m.embers from Tyngs- 
borough and Dunstable. Lovewell and Blanch- 
ard were both distinguished men, and had been 
much in public life. The question soon assumed 
a party shape and laid the foundation of political 
differences, which after the lapse of a century 
are not entirely forgotten or obliterated. 

It was soon discovered by Blanchard that 
neither by the new charter of the town, nor by 



154 



HISTORY OF 



any existing law of the State was there any 
provision for calling the first meeting of the town, 
after its recent incorporation by New Hampshire. 
Massachusetts having no legal jurisdiction over 
the town, any organization under its o]d charter 
was illegal and void. He, therefore, petitioned 
the legislature of New Hampshire that an inves- 
tigation might be had into the authority and 
proceedings of the town meeting, which gave 
Mr. Bird a call, and that all its transactions 
should be set aside as contrary to lav/. 

An investigation was held accordingly. Much 
evidence was introduced, and long and learned 
arguments made on both sides. The petitioners 
contended that they paid txoo thirds of the taxes, 
and Mr. Bird's friends rejoined that they had a 
majority of the voters. Finally, it was decided 
that the meeting was illegal — all its proceedings 
were set aside, and a special act was passed 
providing for the call of a new m.eeting, and the 
legal organization of the township under its new 
charter. This was in 1748. (1.) 

After this decision, and the triumph of Blanch- 
ard, Mr. Bird left town, and settled in New 
Haven, Conn., but afterwards became Chaplain 
in the Army, in the French War of 1755. At 
what period he left Dunstable is uncertain. Mr. 
Farmer says it was in 1751, (2.) but it was 
probably earlier. His name is not mentioned in 
the town records after 174S, nor was any money 
raised for the support of preaching by the town. 
In January, 1751, Jonathan Lovewell was at 
length chosen a committee to hire preaching, and 
in March, 1751, it was voted that the preaching 

( 1 . ) Original papers in the qffice ^f Secretanj of State, at Coflcord. 

Province Papers, Dunstable. 
(2.) i N. H. Hist. Coll., loO. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 155 



should then again be held at the new meeting 
\\o\\se^ formerly occupied by Mr. Bird. 

How strong v/as the feeling about the s€ttle- 
ment of Mr. Bird, and how bitter the hostility 
between his friends and his opponents, we may- 
judge from sundry remarks contained in a peti- 
tion of the inhabitants of Pine Hill to be set 
off to Hollis. The petition was dated June, 
1763. '^ Soon after Dunstable was incorporated/' 
says the petition, " they got into parties about 
the settlement of Mr. Bird. Each courted Pine 
Hill's assistance, promising to vote them off to 
Hollis as soon as the matter was settled. And 
so Pine Hill was fed v/ith Sugar Plums for a 
number of years, till at length Dunstable cast 
off the mask and now appears in their true col- 
ours." After alluding to the objections raised by 
Dunstable, they add : — " Their apprehension 
must arise from some other quarter. They wish 
to keep us as a whip for one party or the other 
to drive out every minister that comes there, for 
they are always divided icith respect to these 
things^ (1.) 

In 1749, the town ^^ voted to hire a school for 
eight months^ One teacher only was to be 
employed, and the school was to be kept in four 
places in different parts of the town, alternately. 
Soon after this the French War commenced, 
which was very burdensome to the Province, and 
exposed the frontiers to Indian attacks, and no 
other record of any school is found until 1761, 
when the town raised a small sum, "to hire 
schooling and houses for that end." This was 
at the commencement of the difliculties with the 
mother country, and the importance of education 
began to be more sensibly felt. After this time 
money was raised for this purpose almost every 

( 1 . ) Dunstable Papers, in office of Secretary of State, Concord. 



14 



f%- 



156 



HISTORY OF 



year, but it was not until the Revolution that 
the people were fully awakened. In 1772, Jo- 
seph Dix was " the Schoolmaster,'^ and he con- 
tinued to teach in town for many years. In 
177.5 the town was divided into Jive School 
Dlstincts^ and school houses were first erected. 
In 1777 each district received its proportion of 
money from the town, and hired its own teachers, 
which had been formerly done by the town. — 
Females now began occasionally to be employed. 
From this period until 1790, about £30, or $100 
was raised annually for the support of schools, 
or twenty dollars to each district. From this 
fact we may imagine the advantages of education 
enjoyed by our fathers at that period, and com- 
pare them with the privileges of children at the 
present day. 

The bridges over the Nashua have always been 
a source of much trouble and expense to the 
town. At what period, and where the first 
bridge v/as erected, cannot be ascertained with 
certainty, but there was a bridge over the Nashua 
not far from the present one at Main street, pre- 
vious to 1746, when the road was surveyed and 
recorded anew by the Selectmen in very near its 
present location. In the spring of 1753 it was 
carried away by a freshet, and rebuilt the same 
summer at an expense of £150. Before 1759 
it was in a ruinous condition, and the town pe- 
titioned to the General Court for "liberty to 
raise a Lottery for repairing the Bridge, or build- 
ing a new one." The lottery was not granted, 
but a new bridge was built, partly by subscrip- 
tion, and partly by the town in 1746. It stood 
" a little above " the old bridge, but below the 
present. In the spring of 1775 it was again 
carried away by a freshet, but was rebuilt the 
same season in the same place. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



157 



Between 1752 and 1756, (I.) died John Love- 
well, at the great age of one kuudr<id cmd twenty 
years^ the oldest person who ever deceased in 
New Hampshire. He was one of the earUest 
settlers of Dunstable, after Philip's War, but 
of his history little is known. He came, it is 
said, originally from England, about 1660, and 
settled some years before 1690. It is not im- 
probable that he came to this town from Wey- 
mouth, as a person of the sam.e name, from that 
town, was in the great Narragansett Swamp 
Fight, Dec. 19, 1675, and throughout Phihp's 
War, under the famous Capt. Church ; and the 
hand-writing of this person corresponds very 
closely with that of John Lovewell of Dunsta- 
ble. (2.) He is said, according to the tradition 
in the family, to have been an Ensign in the 
army of Cromwell, and to have left England 
on account of the Restoration of Charles H. in 
1660. This army of 30,000 men was raised in 
1653, and Cromwell died in 1658. During the 
Indian difficulties, about 1700, it is said that he 
was often spared by the Indians in their incur- 
sions, because he had been kind to them in time 
of peace. (3.) He is represented as being even 
then old and white haired, and for such scalps 
the French Governor paid no bounty. The cellar 
of his house may still be seen on the north side 
of Salmon Brook, just above the bridge, by the 
road side, and there for a long time, when very 
much advanced in years, he kept a small store. 
There, too, he had a mill, and his farm reached 
far to the south of Salmon Brook. He rnust 
have been extremely vigorous, for as late as 1745, 
when more than one hundred years old, he was 

(I.) Farmer's Manuscripts. 

(2 ) Original -papers in Mass. Records, 1676, 1725. 

X^) N H Hist. Coll.. 136. Farmer's Historical Caiecliism,SS. 



Mz 



z'it 



158 



HISTORY OF 



very constant in his attendance upon church, 
and after 1752 used to chase the boys out of his 
orchard with his cane. The children were, 1. 
John, the hero of Pequawkett; 2. 2''.accheus, a 
Colonel in the army : 3. Jonathan. (1.) 

In 1753 the town contained 109 polls, and one 
female slave. There were four mills in town, 
and the valuation was £3795. 

In the fall of 1753, Rev. Benjamin Adams, 
(a graduate of Harvard College in 1738,) preach- 
ed here for three months^ and the greater portion 
of the time during the next two years. 

December 21, 1753, the town voted to build a 
new meeting house, "at the crotch of the roads 
as near as can be with convenience near the 
house where Jonathan Lovewell now dwells." — 
This was the tavern stand now owned by Jesse 
Gibson, about two miles below Nashua Village, 
and the meeting house was built upon the little 
triangular green in front of it. It was finished 
in 1754, and a part of the materials of the old 
meeting house in the south part of the town, 
were used in its construction. 

(1.) From a note in Mr. Fox's manuscript, afterwards crossed 
out by him, he appears to have entertained doubts as to the extreme 
age of John Lovewell, but to have subsequently dismissed them, — 
The following is the note referred to : 

" 1 am inclined to think that his age is somewhat overstated, and 
that the ialher and grandfather of Capt. John are confounded. In 
1691 we find in the records of the town the names of John Lovewell 
and John Lovewell, Jr. The former probably came from England — 
the latter was in Philip's War, and the person above described. 

This note was crossed out, and the following written, in connection 
with the reference to Farmer's manuscripts. 

" He was certainly alive ;n 1732, as appears by a deed in whicli 
he styles himself " the original proprietor." He must have been 
aged, however, since he did not write his name as usual, and his 
mark is faint." 

It has been thought best to insert both the above notes. 



M 



CHAPTER XL 



HISTORY OF DUNSTABLE FROM THE FRENCH 
WAR TO THE REVOLUTION. 

However distracted and divided our predeces- 
sors may have been in relation to religious affairs, 
we may justly be proud of them for their una- 
nimity in patriotism. Exposed for so many 
years'to the dangers of a border warfare, every 
citizen was a soldier. The story of Indian 
atrocities, and French instigation had been hand- 
ed down from father to son, and not a few had 
shared personally in the conflicts. To hold a 
commission was then a high honor, and an object 
worthy of any man's ambition, for it was only 
bestowed upon those who had given proofs of 
courage and capacitor. Every officer might bo 
called at any moment into actual service. The 
military spirit was fostered as a duty, and New 
England freedom, which placed in the hand of 
every child a gun as well as a spelling-book, 
made necessarily of every child not less a marks- 
man than a scholar. 

When the French War broke out in 1755, an 
expedition under General Sir William Johnson, 
was planned against Crown Point, then in pos- 
session of the French. A regiment of five him- 
j| dred men was raised in New Hampshire for this 
Ij purpose, and the command of it was given to 
i Col. Joseph Blanchard of this town. One of the 
|i companies which composed the regiment was 



^P==^==^=~' -ilT 



'i&- 



160 



HISTORY OF 



the famous Raiigers^ of which Robert Rogers 
was Captain, and John Stark, (afterwards Gen- 
eral,) was Lieutenant. The regiment was sta- 
tioned at Fort Edward, and " was employed in 
scouting, a species of service which none could 
perform so successfully as the Rangers of New 
Hampshire. Parties of them were frequently 
under the very v/alls of the French garrisons, 
and at one time killed and scalped a soldier near 
the gate of the fort at Crown Point. Late in 
the autumn the forces were disbanded, and the 
regiment returned to their homes." One of the 
companies composing the regiment went from 
Dunstable and the vicinity, and was commanded 
by Capt. Peter Powers of Hollis. Among the 
officers of the regiment we find the names of 
Jonathan Lovewell of this town, Commissary, 
Rev. Daniel Emerson of Hollis, Chaplain, and 
John Hale of Hollis, Surgeon. (L) 

The war still continued, and New Hampshire 
still fYirnished her quota of troops for the service. 
In 1759 another regiment, consisting of one 
thousand men, were ordered out from this State. 
Col. Blanchard having died the year previous, 
the command of it was given to Col. Zaccheus 
Lovev^^ell of this town, a brother of Capt. John 
Lovewell. This regiment, of which one or more 
companies were from this vicinity, joined the 
main army under Lord Amherst, and v/as pres- 
ent at the taking of Ticonderoga and Crown 
Point, where it did good service. The next year 
a regiment of eight hundred men Avas raised, 
chiefly from this vicinity, commanded by Col. 
John Golie of Bedford. They were present at 
the capture of St. John's, Chamblee, Montreal, 



^=. 



(I.) 5 N. H. Hist. Coll., 2ir, 218. 1 Belknap, 310. 



z:M 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



161 



and Uiiebec, which wrested all Canada from 
France and put an end to the war. (1.) 

There is scarcely in the annals of America a 
company of troops more famous than " Rogers's 
Rangers." Their life was one scene of constant 
exposure, and their story reminds one of the 
days of romance. The forest was their home, 
and they excelled even the Indian in cunning 
and hardihood. Everywhere they wandered in 
search of adventures, fearless and cautious, until 
their very name became a terror to the enemy. 
Even in the post of danger, when the array was 
advancing, they scouted the woods to detect the 
hidden ambush, and when retreating they skir- 
mished in the rear to keep the foe at bay. If any 
act of desperate daring was to be done, the 
Rangers were ^' (he forlorn hope^ At mid- 
night they traversed the camp of the enemy, or 
carried off a sentinel from his post as if in 
mockery. Their blow fell like lightning, and 
before the echo had died away or the alarm sub- 
sided, another blow was struck at some far dis- 
tant point. They seemed to be omnipresent, and 
the enemy deemed that they were in league with 
evil spirits. The plain, unvarnished tale of their 
daily hardships and perilous wanderings, their 
strange adventures, and "hair breadth 'scapes " 
would be as wild and thrilling as a German 
legend. 

Of this company, and of others similar in 
character, a large num^bev belonged to this town. 
The records are lost and their names are princi- 
cipally forgotten. Besides the two Colonels, 
Blanc'hard and Lovewell, and the Commissary, 
Jonathan Lovev/ell, it is knovv^i that the sons 
of Noah Johnson, the last survivor of Lovewell's 
Fisht, were in the war. both of whom were 

(I.) 1 SeZ^-nap, 319, 320. 



162 



HISTORY OF 



killed. One of them, Noah was an ofiicer, and 
was killed at the storming of Quebec, fighting 
under Wolfe. Nehemiah Love well was a Lieu- 
tenant in 1756. and a Captain in 1758 and 1760. 
Jonathan Far well, William Harris, Thomas 
Killicut, Thomas Blanchard, Jonathan Blanch- 
ard, Eleazer Farwell, Be^ijamin Hassell. James 
Mann, Ebenezer Fosdick, Bunker Farwell, John 
Lamson, Simeon Blood, Thomas Lancey, Eph- 
raim Butterfield, John Carkin, James French, 
Henry Farwell, Nathaniel Blood, Joseph Combs, 
John Gilson, James Harwood, John Huston, 
Joshua Wright, William Walker, John Harwood 
and William Iianceyr*were also out during the 
war, as was also Lt. David Alld, and the gun 
which he then carried is still in the possession 
of his daughters. 

In the expedition of 1760, Col. Goffe com- 
manded the regiment which nnistered at Litcii- 
field. His destination was Crown Point and 
Canada. A select company of Rangers was 
formed from the regiment, and the command 
given to Capt. Nehemiah Lovewell of this town. 
As a specimen of the military dress and discipline 
of the lime, the following order is inserted. It 
is copied from Adjutant Hobart's record, and is 
dated Litchfield, May 25, 1760 : — " Col. Goffe 
requires the oMlcers to be answerable that the 
men's shirts are changed twice every week at 
least; that .nuchas have hair that will admit 
of it must have it constantly tyed ; they must 
be obliged to comb tlieir lieads, and wash iheir 
hands every m.orninor, and as it is observed that 
numbers of the men accustom themselves to 
wear woollen nightcaps in the day time, he allows 
them hats ; they are ordered for the future not 
to be seen in the day time with any thing besides 
their hats on their heads, as the above mentioned 



:8I 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



163 



i 



custom of wearing nightcaps must be detrimental 
to their health and cleanhness ; the men's hats 
to be all cocked, or cut uniformly as Col. GofFe 
pleases to direct." (I.) 

September 26, 1757, the town voted, " that 
some measures be taken to settle the Gospel in 
this town " ; and four persons were selected to 
preach one month, each, on probation. Nov. 7, 
they gave a call to Rev. Elias Smith, (a gradu- 
ate of Harvard in 1753,) but difficulty ensued, 
and Dec. 16, the call was retracted. (2.) It was 
a custom for those dissatisfied to enter their 
protest and as a curiosity and a specimen, the 
following is inserted : 

" We the subscribers, being freeholders in Dunstable, 
do for ourselves protest against the choice of Mr. Elias 
Smith for our minister, which they have essayed to choose, 
and for these reasons; j^rsi, because we are not of the 
persuasion he preaches and indevors to maintain; we are 
Presbyterians, and do adhere to the Westminster Confes- 
sion of faith ; and do declare it to be the confession of our 
fiith; and that we are members of the Presbyterian 
Church in Londonderry — some 18 years — some 15 years, 
and have partaken of Baptism, and of the Lord's supper 
as frequently as we could, they being the sealing ordi- 
nances, and that we cannot in conscience join in calling or 
paying Mr. Smith. Therefore we plead the liberty of con- 
science that \VQ may hear and jiay where we can have 
benefit." John Alld, Jeremiah Colburn. 

There was also a protest of David Hobart 
and others against his settlement, because, as 
they say, " Mr. Smith's preaching is contrary to 
our persuasion, and as we judge favors the Ar- 
minian scheme, which we judge tends to pervert 
the truths of the Gospel, and darken the counsels 
of God." 

April 7, 1758, died Col. Joseph Blanchard, 

(1.) Regimental Records, in Secretarifs office, Concord. 
(2.) Perhaps the founder of the sect of Christians. 



u 



164 



HISTORY OF 



aged 53. He was born Feb. 11, 1704, and his 
grandfather, Deacon John Blanchard, was one 
of the first settlers of the town. His father, 
Capt. Joseph Blanchard, was town clerk, select- 
man and proprietor's clerk for many years, a 
very active and usefnl citizeji, and died in 1727. 
On the death of his father, aUhongh young, Jo- 
seph Blanchard was chosen proprietor's clerk, 
which office he held, with a slight interval, during 
his life, and was constantly engaged in town 
husiness until his death. In early life he became 
distinguished as a surveyor of land, -and was 
almost constantly employed in that capacity. — 
In conjunction with Rev. Dr. Langdon, of Ports- 
mouth, he projected a map of New Hampshire, 
which was published after his death, in 1761, 
and inscribed to "Hon. Charles Townsend, his 
Majesty's Secretary of War." 

At this period no accurate maps of the State 
existed, and to prepare one from the then scanty 
materials must have been a work of great mag- 
nitude. Surveys were to be made, and informa- 
tion collected from every quarter. A^^st of the 
labor, of course, fell on Col. Blanchard. The 
greater part of our territory was then a wilder- 
ness, for our whole population scarcely exceeded 
50,000, and the means of intercommunication 
were limited and difficult. But settlements vv^ere 
springing ^up rapidly, and the lands were be- 
coming every day more and more valuable, and 
accurate] information of the localities was im- 
portant. Under these circumstances the map 
was considered of great value, and as a token 
of their estimate of it, Mr. Townsend procured 
from the University of Glasgow, for Mr. Lang- 
don, (Col. Blanchard luiving deceased.) the 
honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. (1.) 



n 



(I.) I Belknap, 312. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



165 



^ 



Upon the dissolution of the connexion between 
New Hampshire and Massachusetts in 1741, and 
the accession of Benning Wentworth as Gov- 
ernor, Mr. Blanchard received the appointment 
of Counsellor of State by mandamus from the 
Crown. This was an office of great dignity and 
authority, and next to that of Governor, was the 
most honorable and responsible in the colonies, 
in the gift of the king. This office he held for a 
number of years, and probably iintil his death. 
In 1749, on the death of Chief Justice Jaffrey, 
he was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court 
of Judicature of the State, which office he held 
during life. 

When the oM French War broke out in 1755, 
an expedition was planned against Crown Point. 
New Hampshire raised a regiment of 500 men, 
and Mr. Blanchard was appointed Colonel. Of 
this regiment, the famous Rangers, under the 
command of Rogers and Stark, formed a part. 
The regiment was stationed at Fort Edward, 
and returned home in the autumn of the same 
year. 

Col. Blanchard married Rebecca Hubbard, 
[Hobart?] by whom he had twelve children. — 
He died in this town and is buried in the Old 
South Burying Gronnd ; his tombstone bears the 
following inscription : — " The Hon. Joseph 
Blanchard, Esqr., deceased April the 7th, 1758, 
aged 53." 

"November 27, 1758, the town voted to give 
Rev. Joslah Cotton a call, and oifered 178 milled 
dollars salary. Jan. 29, 1758, they added £5 
sterling, making his salary about $200. The 
call was accepted, — the day of ordination ap- 
pointed, and the churches invited to attend to 
assist in the services. But a quarrel ensued as 
usual, — the opposition prevailed, and Mr. Cotton 



166 



HISTORY OF 



was not ordained. Protests were entered at 
every meeting by the minority, as each party in 
turn prevailed* 

In 1759, in consequence of the divisions and 
the bitterness of feeling which existed, an Eccle- 
siastical Council was called to settle the difficul- 
ties. For many 3^ears there had been two chur- 
ches and two meeting-houses, but no minister. — 
After much trouble and effort, a compromise was 
made, and an union effected. Mr. Bird's meet- 
ing house was purchased by Jona. Lovewell, re- 
moved, and converted into a dwelUng house, 
which is now occupied by Jesse Bowers, Esq., 
and the two societies again became one. 

As the town at its public meetings settled and 
paid the minister, so it determined his creed, and 
we find accordingly, the following to us curious 
record. In 17G1, a town meeting was called ex- 
pressly ''to see what doctrines the town would 
support"; and it was voted, "that the Doctrines 
contained in the New England Confession of 
Faith are the standing doctrines to be defended 
by this Town." 

July 19, 1762, an invitation was given to Mr. 
Jonathan Livermore to settle here. He was to 
receive £100, for a settlement, and £40 sterling 
per annum salary, " if he will fulfil the duties of 
a Gospel minister agreeably to the Congregation- 
al persuasion, according to Cambridge Platform, 
and New England Confession of Faith." This 
proviso was adopted by a party vote, and was a 
renewal of the old sectarian difliculties of past 
years. Mr. Livermore would not accept and af- 
terward settled in VYilton. 

During the next two years various preacliers 
were heard, but not to general satisfaction. Al- 
though nominally united there was still a vari- 
ance at heart, and no attempt was made to settle 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



167 



a minister until August 1764. A call was then 
given to Mr. Thomas Fessenden, (a graduate of 
Harvard college in 1750.) and an offer of £100 
settlement, and £50 sterling salary. Against this 
call three separate protests were entered by per- 
sons styling themselves '^Pj^espertei^ions,^^ or Pres- 
,byterians, because this mode of settlement was 
"contrary to the fundamental doctrines of Chris- 
tianity," and " of our persuasion." Mr. Fes- 
senden accepted the call, but such was the spirit 
of discord that he Avas never ordained. He left 
town very soon after, for he commenced a suit at 
law against the town, for the recovery of his 
salary before May, 1765, and recovered judgment. 
For nearly twentij years the town had been 
without a settled minister. Sept. 12, 1766, they 
gave a call to Mr. Joseph Kidder, (a graduate of 
Yale College in 1764,) and offered him £132 65. 
Sd. [about $450.] for a settlement, and a salary 
of £53 65. 8d lawful money, [or about $180.] 
Mr. Kidder accepted the invitation, and more 
fortunate than his predecessors, succeeded in being 
ordained March 18, 1767. After many years, 
old difficulties revived, and new ones arose. — 
Parties were again formed, and in 1796, by a 
reference of all disputes to a committee mutually 
chosen, the civil connection between Mr. Kiddsr 
and the town, ceased. He was the last minister 
over the town. He continued his relation to the 
church, however, as before, and preached to his 
societv until his death, Sept. 6, 1818. Nov. 3, 
1818, Rev. Ebenezer P. Sperry was ordained as his 
colleague, but was dismissed in April, 1819. (1.) 
A picture of Dunstable as it was before the 
Revolution, and of the manners and customs, 
opinions and feelings, doings and sayings of the 

(I.) Mr. Sperry is now or was recently Chaplain of the House 
of Correclion, at South Boston. 

3- ■■ -- "■ = 

15 



=m 



m. 



168 



HISTORY OF 



inhabitants, would be highly interesting. To 
sketch such a picture would require the hand of 
a master, as well as materials, which can now 
hardly be obtained. A few facts and anecdotes 
must serve instead. 

Slavery was then considered neither illegal nor 
immoral. Several slaves were owned in this 
town ; one by Paul Clogstone. She was married 
to a free black named Castor Dickinson, and had 
several children born here, but before the Revo- 
lution he purchased the freedom of his wife and 
children. Slavery in New Hampshire was abol- 
ished by the Revolution. 

In those days it was customary to drink at all 
meetings, whether of joy or of sorrow. The 
idea which was long after in vogue — "to keep 
the spirits up, by pouring spirits down " — seems 
to have been then universally prevalent. Even 
at funerals it was observed, and in the eyes of 
many it was quite as important as the prayer. — 
The mourners and friends formed themselves in 
a line, and an attendant with a jug and glass 
passed around, and dealt out to each his or her 
portion of the spirit ; and the due observance of 
this ceremony was very rarely omitted. It is 
said that sometimes "one more thirsty than the 
rest," after having received one "portion," would 
slily fall back from the line, under some pretext 
or other, and re-appear in a lower place, in season 
to receive a second portion. (1.) 

(1.) This is stated on the authority of Mrs. Kidder, wife of Rev. 
Mr. Kidder, an eye witness. 



iHS= 



s^ 



CHAPTER XIL 



REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF DUNSTABLE. 

From the commencement of onr Revolutionary 
difficulties, a deep and universal feeling of indig- 
nation pervaded the community. The men who 
had settled in the wilderness, and defended their 
homes from the attack of the '^ Indian enemy," 
and had built them up a great and goodly her- 
itage, unaided by stepdame England, were not 
the men quietly to yield up their dear bought 
rights without a struggle. Their love for the 
mother country was never very strong, for there 
was little cause for gratitude, and the first ap- 
proach of oppression and wrong was the signal 
for resistance. This feeling was stronger in New 
England than in the other colonies, and manifest- 
ed itself, at an earlier period, because the Puri- 
tans, having been forced to leave their Father 
la.nd by oppression and insult, and having made 
for themselves a new home in the wilderness, 
unassisted and unprotected, felt it a more grievous 
and insufferable Vv^rong, that England should 
seize upon the first moment of prosperity, to heap 
upon them new oppression and new insults here. 

The division of Nev/ England into townships, 
— those " little democracies " as they were aptly 
called, — each self-governed, where every citizen 
feels that he is a part of the commonwealth, has 
municipal rights and duties, and learns to think 
and act for himself, was an excellent school 



f^ 



170 



m 



HISTORY OF 



for training up the Fathers of our Repubhc, and 
teaching them the principles of self-government 
upon a more extended scale. 

Daring the long succession of encroachments, 
which preceded and caused the Revolution, the 
inhabitants of this town were not indifferent. — 
They had vv^atched the storm as it gathered, and 
knew its consequences must be momentous. — 
After the establishment of the boundary line in 
1741, which severed us from Massachusetts, no 
right to send a representative was conceded for 
many years. At that period this right was a 
favor granted by his majesty, through his " be- 
loved, and trust-worthy Benning Wentworth, 
Governor of his. Majesty's Province of New 
Hampshire," and bestowed only upon the loyal 
and obedient. In 1774, however, when a colli- 
sion with England began to be very generally 
expected, the General Assembly of New Hamp- 
shire claimed for itself the exercise of this right, 
and allowed certain representatives from towns 
not heretofore represented a seat and a voice in 
their councils. Immediately a petition was pre- 
sented from this town, asking the privilege of 
representation, which was granted. (1.) 

September, 1774, Jonathan Lovewell was sent 
as a delegate to the Convention, which met at 
Exeter soon after, for the purpose of choosing 
delegates to the First Continental Congress. — 
At the same town meeting the town voted to 
raise a sum of money " to /purchase a supply of 
afrimiiniiion "; and also voted to pay their pro- 
portion of the "expenses of the Delegate to the 
Grand Continental Congress," which met at 
Philadelphia the same month, and which pub- 
lished a Declaration of Rights, and formed an 



I 



{l.) 2 Province Papers. Tozcns, 253. Li Secretary's office. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



171 



•• association not to imj^ort or use British Goods. ^^ 
From this time every movement for liberty met 
with a hearty response. 

January 9, 1775, Joseph Avers and Noah 
tjovewell were chosen to represent the town in 
the Convention which met at Exeter, April 25, 
1775, for the purpose of appointing delegates, to 
act for this State in the Grand Continental Con- 
gress, to be held at Philadelphia, May 10, 1775. 
At this meeting, with a spirit characteristic of 
the times, and evidently anticipating a. Declara- 
tion of Independence, they chose " Saml. Roby, 
Jona. Lovewell, Joseph Eayers, Benjamin Smith, 
John Wright, Benjamin French, James Blanchard 
and John Searle, a Committee of lns]jectio?t to 
see that the Result of the late Continental Con- 
gress be carried into practice, and that all persons 
in this town conform themselves thereto.^'' 

Another meeting of this Convention was holden 
at Exeter, May 17, 1775; at which the same 
delegates attended, and which after several ad- 
journments, formed a Constitution for the Gov- 
ernment of the State. This Constitution, which 
is dated January 5, 1776, was the earUest one 
formed in the United States. (1.) It was adopted 
at the suggestion of the Continental Congress of 
May, 1775 ; but it was a bold step, for it was a 
denial of the right of England to rule over us, 
and a virtual Declaration of Independence. It 
provided for a House of Representatives, and a 
Council of twelve men to be chosen by the House, 
and to form a separate body like our Senate. — 
There was to be no Governor, but the powers of 
the executive were vested in the Council and 
House jointly. If the dispute with England 
continued longer than one year, the members 
of the Council were to be chosen by the people. 



(1.) iN.H.Hist. Coll. 



*15 



Ifi' 



172 



HISTORY OF 



Of this Council, Jona. Blancliard of this town, 
was a member in 1776. 

From the first the people of New Hampshire, 
who as the royalists complained, " had never set 
any good example of obedience," were desirous 
and prepared for a collision : and no sooner did the 
news of the fight at Lexington on the nineteenth 
of April, 1775, reach the State, than the whole 
population rushed to arms. In these movements 
the citizens of Dunstable were among the most 
zealous ; .and the military spirit derived from their 
fathers, and the military experience of many in 
the French Wars, Vv^as roused at once into activity 
by the noise of the conflict. Instantly they hur- 
ried to Concord to avenge the blood of their fel- 
low-citizens. Who and how many were these 
" minute men " we do not know ; but the tov/n 
paid over $110.00 for their expenses. Within 
less than a week a company of sixty-six men 
was organized at Cambridge, under Capt. W^m. 
Walker of this town, forty of whom, 
the ofiicers, were also from Dunstable, 
lowing is the Company Roll : (1.) 

William Walker, Captain. 
* James Brown, 1st Lieut., *Piiilip Roby, 

^Jonathan Harris, 
* William Harris, jr., 
^Archibald Gibson, 
*Benjamin Whitney, 
^Jonathan Danfortb, 
*David Adams, 

Jason Russell, 
*Benjamin Bagley, 

Moses Chandler, 
*EIiphaIct Bagley, 
iStephen Chase, 
jjosiiua Severance, 
JNehemJah Winn, 
^Joseph Greeley, 



including 
1 he fol- 



^Dauiel Warner, Sergeant, 
*John Lund, do., 

fWilliam A. Hawkins, do., 
fFrancis Putnam, do., 
*Medad Combs, Corporal, 
*x\bijah Reed, do., 

*John Lovewell, do., 
*Pliineas Whitney, do., 
^William Harris, Drummer, 
*Paul Woods, Fifer, 
*Simeon Butterfield, 
*Peter Honey, 
*Paul Clogstone, 
*Joel Stewart, 



fe: 



(I.) In the office of the Secretary of State. 

*From Dunstable. tFrom Wilton. tFrom Hudson, 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



173 



*David Adams, jr., fHenry Stevens, 

*Nehemiah Lovewell, fJonathan Gray, 

*Henry Lovewell, flsaac Brown, 

^William Roby, 2nd Lieut., fAsa Cram, 

"~ ' " ' fliart Baich, 



{Stephen Blanchard, 
*Abel Danforlh, 
*Simeon Hills, 
*James llarwood, 
^Ichabod Lovewell, 
*Jacob Blodgett, 
Silas Chamberlain, 
Mansfield Tapley, 
^Oliver Woods, 
*Nehemiah Wright, 
fisrael Howe, 
^Jonathan Emerson. 



*Eleazer Blanchard, 
*Richard Adams, 
*Ebenezer Fosdick, 
* William Butterfield, 
*James Gibson, 

David March, 
*John Snow, 

Moses Chamberlain, 
fNathan Abbott, 
fTimothy Darling, 
fDaniel Brown, 
fTheodore Stevens, 
fHenry Lovejoy, 
fEliphalet Blanchard, jr.. 

The whole male population of the town at this 
time between the ages of sixteen and fifty, was 
only 128 ; so that nearly one half the able-bodied 
inhabitants must have been in the army, at the 
first call of liberty, a month before the battle of 
Bunker Hill. From no other town in New 
Hampshire was there so large a number in the 
army, as appears by the returns ; and we record 
a fact, so honorable to their patriotism and cour- 
age, with a feeling of no little pride. 

The Convention v/hich met at Exeter, April 
25, 1775, a few days after the fight at Lexington, 
organized two regiments, for the assistance of 
their brethren in Slassachusetts. But the men 
were not to be recruited ; they were already in 
the field. Vv^ithin two weeks, more than two 
tliousand men from New Llampshire had joined 
the army around Boston ; or more than one sev- 
enth of the whole population of the >State, be- 
tween the ages of sixteen and fifty. From these 
the two regiments were formed and placed under 



*From Dunstable. tFrom Willon, 



^- 



174 



HISTORY OF 



the command of Col. Stark and Col. Reed, of 
which this company formed a part. 

It may be a matter of curiosity worthy of 
record, to give the abstract of returns of popula- 
tion, number of soldiers in the army, in May, 
1775, number of males between the ages of six- 
teen and fifty not in the army, and ratio of sol- 
diers to the male population. This had been 
required at an early period by the Convention, 
in evident anticipation of a rupture with the 
mother country, in order to ascertain our actual 
condition and resources. The original returns 
also included the number of arms, deficiencies, 
quantity of powder, &c., all of which are now 
in the ofiice of the Secretary of State, and furnish 
an admiral specimen of the forethought of the 
patriots of that day. (1.) 









Number 


Isum. 


No. males Kalio of soltliers 


Counties. 


Population. 


of males 


uegr's 


fi om lu to to male popula- 






III army. 


and 
slaves 
f 01 life 


oU net in tion from 16 to 
the army. 5U. 



! Rockingham, 
|Strafi"ord, 
I Hillsborough 
j Cheshire, 
iGrafton, 



37,850 


1;27 


437 


6,383 


12,713 


275 


103 


2,282 


15,948 


650 


87 


2,723 


10,659 


376 


7 


2,009 


3.880 


156 


24 


834 



12| in 100 
10? " 100 
191 u 100 



15| " 100 
153 u 



100 



Total, J81,050|2,384|656|l4,231|14i •'' 100 



From this table we may gather some facts 
which will enable us to appreciate more truly 
the spirit and the sacrifices of that period. More 
than fourteen hundred of the whole male popu- 
lation of the State, between the ages of sixteen 
and fifty years, were in the army in May, 1775, 
or nearly one out of every five who was able to 
bear arms. Our own county, old Hillsborough, 

(I.) S N. H. Hist, jColL, 231. Original returns in Secretartfs 
ajjice. 



SS- 



=iSCl 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 175 

excelled them all, however, having at that time 
in the army more than nineteen in every hundred 
males, between sixteen and fifty, or at least one 
quarter part of all the able-bodied inhabitants. — 
A few days after the battle of Bunker Hill, an- 
other regiment from New Hampshire, under the 
command of Col. Poor, joined the army at Cam- 
bridge. 

Previous to the battle the New Hampshire 
troops were stationed at Medford, and formed 
the left wing of the American Army. '' These 
troops," says Major Swett, (I.) " were hardy, 
brave, active, athletic and indefatigable. Al- 
most every soldier equalled William Tell as a 
marksman, and could aim his weapon at an op- 
pressor with as keen a relish. Those from the 
frontiers had gained this address against the sav- 
ages and beasts of the forests. The country yet 
abounded with game, and hunting was familiar 
to all ; and the amusement most fashionable and 
universal throughout New England was trial of 
skill with the musket." 

At eleven o'clock on the morning of the battle, 
the New Hampshire troops received orders to 
reinforce Col. Prescott, at Charlestown. "About 
fifteen charges of loose powder and balls were 
distributed to each man, and they were directed 
to form them into cartridges immediately. Few 
of the men, however, possessed cartridge boxes, 
but employed powder horns, and scarcely two 
of their guns agreeing in calibre, they were 
obliged to alter the balls accordingly." (2.) 

As soon as the British troops landed at Charles- 
town, the New Hampshire regiments were or- 
dered to join the other forces on Breed's Hill. — 
A part were detached to throw up a work on 

(I.) Bunker Hill Battle, 20. 

(2.) Major Swett' s Bunker Hill Battle, iO. 



176 



HISTORY OF 



m-. 



Bunker Hill, and the residue, under Stark and 
Reed, joined the Connecticut forces, under Gen. 
Putnam, and the regiment of Col. Prescott, at 
the Rail fence. This was the very point of the 
British attack, the key of the American position. 
Here Captain Walker's company was formed, 
awaiting the attack. To be stationed there, in 
the post of danger, was a high honor, and well 
did the New Hampshire troops merit it, although 
not a few paid for the distinction with their lives. 

As soon as the British moved forward to the 
attack, our troops under Stark, engaged in forti- 
fying Bunker Hill under the direction of Putnam, 
joined their brethren. The battle commenced.- — 
The Americans, forbidden to fire upon the enemy 
until " they could see the whites of their eyes," 
swept them down by companies. Again and 
again were the British driven back, and not until 
their scanty supply of ammunition was exhaust- 
ed, and the British assaulted the works at the 
point of the bayonet, did the Americans retire 
from their position. Even then they retreated 
like the lion, disputing every step with stones 
and clubbed muskets, and lay upon their arms 
during the night at Winter Hill, directly in the 
face of the enemy. 

The number of Americans engaged in the 
battle was fluctuating, but may be fairly estimaied 
at little more than two thousand men. Their 
loss was 115 killed, 305 wounded, and 30 cap- 
tured ; in all 450. The New Hampshire regi- 
ments lost 19 men killed, and 74 wounded, a 
large proportion of those engaged. The British 
loss was 1054, including 89 officers. One regi- 
ment, the Welsh Fusiliers, lost every officer 
except one. (1.) 

(1.) 2 N. H. Hist. Coll., 145. Mrs. Adams's Letters. Original 
papers in office of Secretary of State. 



J 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



177 



None of Capt. Walker's company were killed ; 
two only were wounded — Joseph Greeley and 
Paul Clogstone. The latter died soon after. — 
William Lund, of this town, however, who was 
in another company, was killed in the battle. — 
The original return of Capt. Walker, including 
articles lost by the company, in the battle and 
in the retreat, is now on file in the office of the 
Secretary of State. It is as follows: ''6 great 
coatSy 31 shirts, 24 pair of hose, 18 haversacks. 
1 pistol, 1 fife, 2 guns, 1 cartridge box, 5 strait 
body coats, 2 jackets, 10 pair of trowsers, G pair 
of leather breeches, 2 pair of shoes, 12 blankets.'" 
The unusual heat of the day compelled them 
to lay aside their knapsacks, which were lost in 
the excitement and hurry of the retreat. 

The bond of allegiance to Great Britian was 
severed by this battle, never to be again united. 
The people of New England expected a Declara- 
tion of Independence, and awaited it impatiently, 
long before the 4th of July, 1776. In February, 
1776, we find the officers of this town warning 
the annual meeting, not as heretofore, " in his 
Majesty's name," but, " in the 7ia77ie of the peo- 
ple of the State of Neto Hampshire.'''' 

At this meeting the "spirit of 



76 



•was 



strongly manifested. " Sam'l Roby, Noah Lovq- 
Avell, William Walker, Joseph Eayrs, Joseph 
French, Jr., Capt. Benjamin French and Thomas 
Butterfield, were chosen delegates to the County 
Congress." 

" Jona. Lovewell, Robert Fletcher, Joscpii 
Eayrs, Capt. Benjamin French, Noah Lovewell, 
Samuel Roby, Joseph Whiting and Thomas But- 
terfield, were chosen a committee of safty.'' 

" Samuel Roby, Benjamin Smith, Thomas 
Butterfield, John Searls, David AUd, James 
Blanchard, William Walker, John Wright and 



^~ 



-m 



178 



HISTORY OF 



Henry Adams, were chosen a committee of in- 
spection to see that no British Goods were sold 
in town." 

In November, 1776, in consequence of the great 
depreciation of paper money, the exorbitant 
prices asked by the speculators w^ho had fore- 
stalled the markets, and the consequent discour- 
agement to the exertions of those who were la- 
boring to sustain the heavy public burdens, a 
meeting was holden at Dracut, to petition Con- 
gress, and the State Legislature, upon the subject ; 
and to devise such other measures as might be 
necessary for the protection of the people. A 
large number of delegates were present, and 
Dunstable was represented by Capt. Benjamin 
French, Capt. Noah Love well and Joseph Eayrs. 
The Convention met November 28, 1776, at the 
house of Major Joseph Varnum, and prepared a 
Petition to the Legislature, praying that the re- 
solves of the Continental Congress of 1775, re- 
specting prices, &c., might be enforced more 
strictly. (1.) 

Early in 1776, New Hampshire raised three 
regiments of 2,000 men, which were placed under 
the command of Colonels Stark, Pteed and Hale. 
They were sent to New York to join the army 
under Gen. Sullivan for the invasion of Canada. 
They proceeded up the Hudson, and down the 
lakes to Canada, but were obliged to retreat to 
Ticonderoga. A part of Capt. Walker's com- 
pany enlisted in these regiments. They suffered 
severely, and lost one third of their number by 
sickness and exposure. (2.) Of those who were 
in the army at this time, in the company com- 
manded by Capt. William Reed, and said to be- 
long to Dunstable, we find the following names : 

(1.) 2N. H. Hist. Coll.y 50. 
(2.) 1 Belknap, 370. 



ik- 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &G, 179 



-W^ 



Joel Limd, ensign, Silas Adams, James Blanch- jl 
ard, Peter Honey, John Wright, jr., Jonathan \' 
Butterfield, John Lovewell, Oliver Wright, Ne- p 
hemiah Wright, Daniel Wood, Timothy Blood, j 
Asa Lovejoy, Daniel Blood, Jonathan Wright. j 

The following persons were in the company || 
of Capt. Daniel Wilkins, in Col. Timothy Be- I 
dell's regiment, which was stationed on oar i 
northern frontier; Philip Abbot Roby, Ebenezer I 
Fosgett [or Fosdick,] Joseph Farrar, James Har- | 
wood, and Reuben Killicut. j! 

In July, 1776, Capt. William Barron raised a j| 
company for Canada, in which there were the j| 
following Dunstable men: — John Lund, 1st ji 
Lieut., Richard Whiting, 2d Sergt., Abijah Reed, jj 
3d Sergt,, John Fletcher, 2d Corporal, Ephraim jj 
French, Benjamin Bailey, Charles Butterfield, \\ 
William Butterfield, Abraham Hale, John Comb, l\ 
Thomas Blanchard, Thomas Killicut, Israel In- || 
galls, Medad Combs, Levi Lund, Thomas Har- \\ 
ris, Peter Henry, James Jewell, William Stewart. |; 

In consequence of the loss sustained by the j! 
New Hampshire regiments, Jonathan Blanch- l\ 
ard, Esq., of this town, was sent by the Legisla- j 
ture to Ticonderoga in October, 1776, to recruit l\ 
the array. In December, 1776, Capt. Walker, h 
of this town, raised a company from Dunstable |i 
and vicinity. It was attached to a regiment com- i' 
manded by Col. Oilman, of which Noah Love- | 
well, of this tov^^i, was Quarter-Master, and or- |; 
dered to New York. Among those who enlisted j; 
we find Phineas Whitney, Silas Swallow, Joseph 
Dix and Jacob Adams. 

In 1777, also, three regiments, consisting of 
2,000 men, were raised in this State, for three j 
years, and placed under the command of Colonels 
Cilley, Hall and Scammel ; Stark s.nd Poor hav- j 
ing been promoted to the rank of Brigadier-Gen- | 



s= 



180 



HISTORY OF 



! 



7T I 



eral. The same quata of troops was furnished 
by New Hampshire during the war, besides vol- 
untary' enlistments in other regiments, which 
were very numerous. In every levy of 2,000 
men, the proportion to be furnished by this town, 
was about sixteen. More than twice this num- 
ber, however, must have been constantly in the 
arm5^ (L.) 

In March. 1777, the tovv^n oiiered a bounhj of 
one hundred dollars to every soldier who ^vould 
enlist, and a large number joined the army. Be- 
sides those already^ mentioned, ws find the follow- 
ing : — Jonathan Emerson, Lieutenant in Cilley's 
regiment : James Hlanchard, Quarter-Master in 
ScammeFs regiment; John Butler and James 
Harv/ood killed at Hubberton, Yt. July 7, 1777^ 
on the retreat from Ticonderoga, John Manning 
taken prisoner there, and afterwards re-taken; 
Simeon Butterfteld, David Alid, Israel Ingalls, 
John Lund, William Gibbs, Paul Woods, Elipha- 
let Manning, John Manning, James Seal, Isaac 
Adams. Noali Downs, Jeremiah Keith who served 
in a Massachusetts regiment; Ephraim Blood, 
William Mann and John Crocker, in the Artillery 
corps. Just before the battle of Saratoga, Lt. 
Alld returned for volunteers, and a large number 
from this town and vicinity hastened to join the 
army, and arrived in season to compel and wit- 
ness the surrender of Burgoyne. In November, 
1777, the town voted to raise '• ^735 lawful 
money to defray the extraordinary e:ipenses of 
the present war." 

(I.) The regiment of militia to v/hich Dunstable ^as attached, 
was then commanded bj^ Ccl. Moses Nichols, of Amherst. It em- 
braced the following towns, containing the number of males between 
the ages of sixteen and filly, in each respective!}'- : — Amherst 321 ; 
Nottingham West [Hudson] 122; Litchfield 57; Dunstable 128; 
Merrimac 129 : Hollis 23 i ; VViitoa 123 ; Rindge 20 ; Mason 113.— 
This was the basis for all drafts of soldiers for the army. In May, 
1777, one hundred and fifty-five men were drafted from the regiment, 
or one in crerv eight. 



It-" 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 181 

By the Constitution of 1776. no provision was 
nriade for a Governor, or any chief Executive 
Officer of the State. The Legislature was itself 
the Executive, and upon every adjournment, 
therefore, it became necessary to give to some 
body the power of acting in case of emergency 
during the recess. This power was voted in a 
Committee of Safety, varying in number from 
six to sixteen^ composed of the v/isest, best^ and 
most active men in the different sections of the 
State, and those Vv^ho had shown themselves the 
truest friends of their countr^r. Their duty was 
like that of the Roman Dictators — " ne quid 
Respublica detrimenti caperet'' — to take care 
that the Republic received no injury ; and a cor- 
responding power to effect this object was given 
them. Of this most responsible committee, two 
members belonged to this town. Jonathan Love- 
well was a member from June 20, 1777, to Janu- 
ary 5, 1779, and Jonathan Blanchard from Jan- 
uary 6, 1778. (1.) 

The complaints of the people respecting the 
high prices of all the necessaries of life still con- 
tinuing, and the recommendations of Congress 
having no effect upon many of the extortioners, 
it was then recommended that a Convention 
should be holden at New Haven, Conn., January 
15, 1778, to be composed of Delegates also ap- 
pointed by the liegislaturesof the several States. 
Its object was '' to regulate and ascertain the 
price of labour, manufactures, internal produce, 
and commodities imported from foreign ports, 
military stores excepted, and also to regulate the 
charges of inn-holders, and to make Report to 
the Legislatures of their respective States." — 
Jonathan Blanchard, of this town, and Col. Na- 

(1.) 2 .Y. H. Hist. Coll, 39. 
• _ . z:==z:==z:=dm 



!8K^ 



182 



HISTORY OF 



) ; 

If 



thaniel Peabody, were appointed delegates from 
New Hampshire, and acted accordingly. 

After the Declaration of Independence, which 
was the abolition of all existing government, it 
became necessary to form some plan of Govern- 
ment, both for the State and the Union. The 
people in their primary assemblies had com- 
menced and carried on the Revohition, and they 
entered with the same zeal into iAie discussion 
of their poHtical rights and duties, and the best 
mode of preserving and perpetuating them. — 
February 9, 1778, in town meetiiig^ ''the arti- 
cles of Confederation formed by the Honorable 
Continental Congress having been taken into 
consideration were consented to 2inanimoiisly.'^ 

April 17, 1778. Capt. Benjamin French, and 
Dea. William Hunt were chosen delegates to 
the Convention, which was to be holden June 
10, 1778, for the purpose of forming a Constitu- 
tion for the State. We may see with what 
jealousy the people watched their servants, and 
regarded the powers of Government, from the 
fact that they appointed a committee of eleven, 
viz.: Cyrus Baldwin, Joseph Whiting, Robert 
Fletcher, Esq., Jonathan Lovewell, Esq., Capt. 
Daniel Warner, Joseph Eayrs, Capt. Benjamin 
Smith, Lieut. David Alld, Col. Noaii Lovewell, 
Lieut. Joseph French, and Lieut. Jacob Taylor 
'' to assist said members during the Convention's 
session." So early was the right of instritction 
claimed, practised, and acknowledged. A Bill 
of Rights and a Constitution was drafted ac- 
cordingly, and an able Address to the People 
issued, signed by John Langdon, President of 
the Convention. But the people would not sanc- 
tion either. Their experience of royal usurpa- 
tion, and the fear of giving too much power to 
tVieir rulers prevailed, and both were negatived 



se.- 



■^ 



- ' ■'■ '" — ^ — " ■ ' '- g 

NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 183 ] 

by a great majority. This town " voted w/zam- 
moiisly to reject them." 

In Ajigust, fourteen men went from this town 
to Rhode Island, as volunteers, with Col. Noah 
Lovevvell. The tov/n voted to pay them a bounty 
vti about thirty-five dollars each. Of this num- 
ber were James Jewell, Eleazer Fisk, Isaac Foot, 
and others. During this year a very large num- 
ber of soldiers from this town were in the army 
in New York and at the South. 

In December, 1778, Col. Noah Lovewell was 
c'*5osen " Representative for one year," being 
the first representative ekcted by the town under 
the Constitution. 

How many soldiers were furnished to the army 
from this town during that long and bloody 
struggle, it is impossible now to ascertain with 
correctness, but the number continued to be very 
large during the war. It is estimated that New 
Hampshire sent to the army at various times, 
14,000 men, a number nearly equal to the whole 
able-bodied population of the State at the com- 
mencement of the wars, and of whom 4,000 died 
in the service. 

The whole male population of this town in 
May, 1775, between the ages of sixteen and fifty 
years, was only 128, and nearly every inhabitant, 
either as a volunteer upon an alarm, or as a 
drafted man, was at some period in the service. 
They were in almost every fight from Bunker 
Hill to Yorktown, and their bones are moulder- 
ing upon many a battle field from Massachusetts 
to Virginia. When the news of "Me Concord 
Flghi^^ flew hither on the wings of the wind, 
our ''^minute men''' saddled their horses and 
hastened to the scene of conflict, and, although 
they did not reach there in season to share in its 
dangers, they formed a portion of that fiery mass 



^' 



184 



HISTORY OF 



of undisciplined valor which " hung upon the 
steps of the retreating foe like lightning on the 
edge of the cloud." They were at Bunker Hill 
in the post of danger and honor, and shared 
largely in the glory of that day. They were 
at Ticonderoga, where, borne down by sickness, 
by pestilence, and by want, they were compelled 
to retreat, fighting step by step, in the face of a 
victorious enemy. They were at Bennington, 
under Stark, where the first gleam of light broke 
in upon the darkness which was lowering over 
our prospects, cheering every heart to new efforts, 
and at Stillwater and Saratoga, where this iirst 
omen of victory was converted into a triumpli 
most glorious and enduring. 

They wintered at Valley Forge with Wash- 
ington, where, " without shoes or stockings, their 
pathway might be tracked by tlieir blood.'" — 
They were at Trenton and Princeton, where, 
under the very eye of Washington, they surprised 
and captured the Hessians, and gave nev/ hope 
and courage to the disheartened nation. They 
fought at Germantown and Monmouth, and at the 
memorable conflicts on LiOng Island. At Mon- 
mouth, the New Hampshire regiment, under 
Cilley and Dearborn, was " the most distinguish- 
ed, and to their heroic courage the salvation of 
the army was owing.'' General Washington ac- 
knowledged the service, and sent to enquire what 
regiment it v/as. ^'- Full blooded Yankees, by 
G-d, sir," was the blunt reply of Dearborn. — 
And at Yorktown, when the whole British army 
capitulated, they were there with Scammel, a 
glorious and fitting finale to the great Revolu- 
tionary drama, whose opening scene was at 
Lexington. 

Of those who. during tliis long period, when 
the fears of even the stout-hearted prevailed over 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, kC. 



185 



their hopes, and darkness seemed resting upon 
their freedom, rallied around the standard of 
their country, and perilled " their lives, their 
fortunes, and their sacred honour " in its defence, 
few — very few — now survive, the shadows only 
of their manhood. It is no easy task even to 
collect their names, and they ought not to be for- 
gotten. They were in humble station, and fa- 
miliarity may have reduced them in the eyes of 
the present age; yet their service was no holiday 
sport, and to them, their exertions, and their 
sufferings, do we all owe the birth-right of our 
liberty. From tlie records of the town, and 
musty papers on file : from Legislative Journals ; 
from company and regimental returns in the of- 
fice of the Secretary of State : from vouchers and 
loose memoranda accidentally preserved, — and 
from personal enquiry of the survivors and de- 
scendants of the actors, we have gathered with 
no little care and labor, a portion of their names. 
Some of them sound strangely in our ears, but 
most of them are known positively to have been 
in the service, and are called of this town. (1.) 

(1) For the list of soldiers in thcErniy from Diinstohle [NathuaJ 

sei^ .Appendix 



'M 



CHAPTER XIIL 



St 



HISTORY TO THE ORIGIN OF NASHUA VILLAGE. 

We can form but a faint idea of the sacrifires 
which were made for Independence. Beside 
perilling life in battle and submitting to priva- 
tions of every description, so large a proportion 
of the able-bodied population were in the army, 
that the fields were often left nntilled. Yet they 
gave both time and treasure to their country, 
without measure and vvHthout a murmur. " Our 
efforts are great,-' JMr. Adams said in 17S0, " and 
we give this campaign more than half our prop- 
erty to defend the other. He who stays at home 
cannot earn enough to pay him who takes the 
field.'*' (L) The amount annually expended by 
the town, during the war, was several thousand 
dollars: — a heavy burden upon a population, 
numbering in 1775, only 705. Yet this small 
number had diminished, in 1783, to 578, shev/ing 
a decrease of 127, or IS per cent.: a fact which 
proves better than pages of description, the 
amount of the exertions which were put t^orth, 
and the sacrifices which were made, and the 
consequent paralysis of the energies and pros- 
perity of the community. 

In 1781, another Convention was holden at 
Concord, for the purpose of forming a State Con- 
stitution ; and Jonathan Lovewell, Esq., was 

Xl.) Mrs. Adams's Letter p, 152. 



:S} 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



187 



chosen a delegate. But the same jealousy 
continued to exist as heretofore, and the new 
Constitution, which was our present one with 
slight modifications, was rejected by the town 
" unanimously." In December, 1782, Jonathan 
Blanchard, Esq., was chosen Representative, and 
it was again voted '' not to receive the Bill of 
Rights and Plan of Government " as adopted, 
and the town chose Oapt. Benjamin French, Jo- 
seph Whiting, Jonathan Lovewell, Esq., and Col. 
Noah Lovewell, a committee to state the reasons 
of rejection. 

' March, 1784, Capt. Benjamin French was 
chosen Representative. 

March 6, 1786, Col. Noah Lovewell was cho- 
sen Representative, and the town voted, that 
" the Selectmen with Jona. Blanchard, Esqr., 
Jonathan Lovewell, Esqr., Mr. Joseph Whiting 
and Deacon William Flunt be a committee /o^-ii'e 
instnicilons to the Representatives''' In 1787, 
the same proceedings were renewed. 

January 10, 1788, Dea. William Hunt was 
chosen a delegate to the Convention, which met at 
Exeter in February of the same year, to consider 
of. and adopt, the Constitution of the United 
States, which had recently been formed and sent 
out for the approval of the people. Throughout 
the country, as well as in the Convention, which 
formed it, there was a great diversity of opinion 
respecting it, and much opposition. It contained 
no bill of rights as it now does ; as its opposers 
thought no limitation of powers. The States 
had long been sovereign and independent democ- 
racies, and hesitated to give up any of their 
rights. The confederation had been inefficient 
from the want of central authority. 

Thus, while some believed that the Constitu- 
tion vested too much power in the General Gov- 



^ 



188 



HISTORY OF 



'■% 



iSz 



ernment, which would eventually swallow up 
the several States, others feared that it possessed 
too little power to protect itself from the en- 
croachments of the States ; and would soon share 
the fate of the old confederacy. There was 
danger on both sides : on the one side anarchy — 
on the other vsiirpation. It v/as an untried ex- 
periment, and every little community was di- 
vided. It was discussed in town meeting, and 
the town voted " not to accept said Constitution," 
and chose a committee of ni)ie to give their dele- 
gates instruction to oppose its adoption by the 
Convention. This committee reported a list of 
objections, Avhich were adopted by the town, and 
forwarded to the Convention. The Constitution, 
however, was adopted. It was a medium and a 
compromise, between the doubts of conflicting 
parties, and the fears of both have happily proved 
vain. 

July 16, 1788, died Hon. Jonathan Blanchard, 
aged 50 years. He was the son of Col. Joseph 
Blanchard, and was born September 18, 173S. — 
He had not the advantage of a collegiate educa- 
tion, but was early initiated, by his father, into 
the active business of life. After the death of 
his father, v/hich occurred in his 20th year, he 
was called upon to till his place as proprietors' 
clerk and surveyor, and was soon deeply engaged 
in the management of town affairs, and other 
public business. 

When the events which preceded the revolu- 
tion occurred, the people of New Hampshire were 
among the first to resist the usurpations of the 
crown. When in 1685, Cranfield forbade the 
ministers to preach, imlessthey would administer 
the communion to all who requested it, in the 
Episcopal form, they refused obedience, denounc- 
ed him from the pulpit, and went to prison rather 



(1.) Mrs. Adams's Letters, SD. 2 Gordon's History, 150. 
("2.) 1 Belknap, 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 189 11 

_ . ^ _ j, 

than yield. When the Governor at a later day, ij 
levied a tax upon the lands of tlie people, for his jj 
private advantage, the women resisted the col- ij 
lection, and drove his officers from their houses 
with water scalding hot. The ^^ broad /i?," cut 
by some "prowling official," upon their choicest 
trees, thus devoting them to the Royal Navy, 
without redress or compensation, was a continued 
eye-sore. 

Early in 1775, the legislature of New Hamp- 
shire, first of all the States, and evidently antici- 
pating Independence, sent a request to the Con- 
tinental Congress, which met at Philadelphia, 
May 10, 1775, to advise them as to the organiza- 
tion of an Independent Government. Agreeably 
to their recommendation, given with much hesi- 
tation, (1.) a Convention met at Exeter, and 
adopted a Constitution, bearing date January 5, 
1776. It was the earliest adopted by any colony, 
and was violently opposed by the more timid, as 
a virtual Declaration of Independence. (2.) It 
provided, as has before been mentioned, for a 
House of Delegates, and a Council of twelve, to 
be elected annually by the people, and which 
were similar to our Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives. No provision v/as made for a Gov- 
ernor, and the whole Executive, as well as Leg- 
islative, authority was placed in these two bodies. 
Of this Council, Jonathan Blanchard was chosen 
a member in 1776, and continued such for t/ij-ee 
years. No better testimony to his worth could 
be given than the bestowal of such an office al 
such a period. 

In October, 1776, Gen. Blanchard was sent by 
the Legislature to recruit our regiments, which 
had been wasted by sickness, suffering, and de- 



^cr: 



^ 



190 



HISTORY OF 



feat at Ticonderoga. In 1777, he was appointed 
Attorney General of the State, in conjunction 
with Col. Nathaniel Peabody, and is said " to 
have discharged his duties in a manner satisfac- 
tory to the Government, and advantageous to the 
people." (1.) January 6, 1778, he was appoint- 
ed a member of the " Committee of Safety ^^ for 
the State, an office of unlimited responsibility and 
power, and which he held for a long period. (2.) 

He was a delegate from this State, in conjunc- 
tion with Col. Peabody, to the Convention, which 
met at New Haven, January 1778, "to regulate 
prices,*' enforce the recommendations of Con- 
gress, and relieve the distress of the people ; and 
he prepared a report to our Legislature accord- 
ingly. (3.) In 1784, soon after the adoption of 
our State Constitution, Gen. Blanchard was ap- 
pointed Judge of Probate for the County of Hills- 
borough, an office which he held nearly or quite 
up to the time of his death. 

In 1787, during the confederation of the States, 
he was elected a delegate from this State to the 
Continental Congress. They were chosen a7inu- 
ally^ and whether he was again elected and died 
in office is uncertain. (4.) Soon after the death 
of his father he was appointed agent, by the 
Masonian Proprietors, to manage and dispose of 
all the unsettled lands within the State of New 
Hampshire. The territory of this State had been 
granted originally, to Robert Mason, but after 
many years^ finding that it yielded very little 
income and caused him much trouble, he disposed 
of the land, as far as it remained in his possession, 
to a company of individuals who were called 
the Masonian Proprietors. As their agent, Gen. 

(1.) 3 Farmer^ s and Moore^s Hist. Coll., 5. 
(2.) 2 A'. H. Hist. Coll., 39. 
(3.) 3 Farmer^s and Moore's Hist. Coll., 5 
(4.) 1 Belknap, 416. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



191 



:K. 



Blanchard conveyed most of the lands within 
the State, and this circumstance caused that many 
of the original proprietors of a very large number 
of towns resided here, and from this town were 
drawn many of their first settlers. 

Gen. Blanchard died in this town and is buried 
in the Old South burying ground. He married 
Rebecca Farwell, who died August 20, 1811, and 
left jive children, one only of whom is now living. 

In 1790, the population of the town was 632. 

In 1792, died Jonathan Love well, Esq., aged 
79. He was a brother of Capt. Lovewell, " The 
Indian Fighter," and of Col. Zaccheus Lovewell, 
and was born in this town. May 14, 1713. Early 
in life he took an active part in town affairs, and 
became one of the proprietors of "common 
lands " in the township of Dunstable. For many 
years he was proprietor's clerk, and a magistrate 
under the crown. About the year 1746, under 
the preaching of Rev.. Mr. Kirk, he became a 
convert to the doctrine of the "New Lights," as 
the follov/ersof Whitefield were then called, and 
soon after became a preacher. This probably, 
however, was of short duration, as he never left 
town, and in 1765, he was commissary of the 
New Hampshire regiment, sent out against Crown 
Point, under the command of Col. Joseph Blanch- 
ard. A gun taken from the French during that 
campaign, and brought home by him, is still in 
the possession of the family. 

In the earliest stages of the Revolution, Mr. 
Lovewell was an ardent and efficient friend of 
liberty. In April, 1774, he was chosen agent 
of the town to petition the General Court for 
leave to send a Representative, a privilege which 
they had not hitherto enjoyed. In September, 
1776, he was chosen a delegate to represent the 
town in the Convention holden at Exeter, for the 



r:=^: 






I 192 



HISTORY OF 



purpose of sending a delegate to the First Conti- 
nental Congress, to be holden soon after at Phila- 
delphia. These were the first steps towards In- 
dependence. 

January 9, 1775, Mr. Lov^ewell was chosen 
a member of the "Committee of Inspection '' 
for the town, to see that none of the inhabitants 
purchased or used British Goods. February, 
1776, he was chosen a member of the " Commit- 
tee of Safety ^^ for the town, a situation of no 
little trust, and continued a member of almost 
every such Revolutionary committee during the 
war. These committees were of the highest 
utility in diffusing information, and in exciting 
and concentrating the efforts of the patriotic, and 
demanded men of great energy and decision. — 
June 20, 1777, he was chosen a member of the 
" Committee of Safety '" for the State, and 
served in that capacity until January 5. 1779. 
about which period the necessity for the exercise 
of their functions in a great measure ceased. 

April, 1778, he was chosen a member of the 
Committee to ^^ assist ^^ the delegates from this 
town in the Convention for framing a Constitution 
for the State. In 1781, he was chosen a member 
of the committee which formed our present State 
Constitution. After its adoption he was appoint- 
ed a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for 
this County, which office he held for several 
years. He lived and died unmarried. 



CHAPTER XIY 



HISTORY OF NASHUA VILLAGE. 

For a number of years little occurred in the 
history of the town which would be of general 
interest. It was slowly recovering from the 
effects of the war, and its exhausting sacrifices. 
About 1795 the first stage coach was put upon this 
road, and was an occasion of great public inter- 
est. It was a two horse covered vehicle, owned 
and driven by Mr. Joseph Wheat, and ran from 
Amherst to Boston and back again once a week. 
It stopped at Billerica over night, making the 
trip both ways in about four days. They had 
not then learned the advantages of changing 
horses, and the same team performed all the 
journey. People came from a distance of sever- 
al miles to look at " the stage^'"' and gaze upon it 
with the same feeling of wonder that they now 
do upon a locomotive engine. 

About this time the locks and canal around 
Pawtucket Falls were built, and boating upon the 
Merrimac b^gan. At this time there were no 
dwellings where our village now stands, and but 
one or two at the Harbor. 

In 1800 the population of Dunstable had in- 
creased to 862. In the spring of 1803 a Canal 
Boat was built in the village, by Robert Fletcher, 
Esq. It was a singular structure, having sides 
five or six feet in height all around it, and doors, 



&: 



194 



HISTORY OF 



=^ 



and was looked upon as "a wonder." It was 
the first canal boat ever built in this vicinity for 
the regular transportation of goods, and the fact 
was considered of as much importance to the 
infant village as the opening of a railroad at the 
present day. It was launched on the Fourth of 
July, which was celebrated by a public meeting, 
and an oration by Daniel Abbot, Esq. (1.) — 
There was a great gathering of the people, and 
great rejoicing. Already was it a place of some 
trade, and the more sanguine saw in imagination 
its trade and population doubled or even trebled. 
The landhig was on the Merrimac near the mouth 
of the Nashua, and a store was there erected. — 
The boat was christened " the Nashua," with 
much parade, and the village which had until 
then been called ^^ Indian Jlead,^^ received the 
name of Nashua Village. (2.) That may be 



(1.) This oration was printed. 

(2.) This aame is found in Winthrop's Journal, both in its present 
usual orthography and in other forms, as applied to an early settle- 
ment on the Nashua river, now Lancaster, Massachusetts. 

In 1648, "Others of the same town (Waterlown) began also a 
plantation at Nashaway, some 15 miles N. W. from Sudbury." 

In 1644, " Many of Watertown and other towns joined in the 
plantation ot Nashaway," &c. Winthrop^s Journal, Vol. II., pages 
152, 161. 

la a note to the passage last quoted, the editor, Hon. James Sav- 
age, says: — "From our Col. Rec. II. 57, I find 'the petition of Mr. 
Nathaniel Norcross, Robert Chide, Stephen Day, John Fisher and 
others for a plantation at Nashawake is granted, provided that there 
shall not be more land allotted to the town, or particular men, (not- 
withstanding their purchase of land of the Indians,) than the Gen- 
eral Court shall allow.' " 

In the following entries by Winthrop, in 1648, the came appears to 
have been spelt as usual at present : 

" This year a new way was found out to Connecticut, by Nashua, 
which avoided much of the hilly way. 

" The magistrates, being informed at a court of assistants that 
four or five Indians who lived upon the spoil of their neighbours, 
had murdered some Indians of Nipnett,who were subject to this 
government, and robbed their wigwam, sent twenty men to Nashua, 
to enquire the truth of the matter," &.c. Journal, Vol. II. page 325. 

In the Appendix to the same volume, page 394, the editor gives 
the former name of Lancaster as Nashaway. 



^n 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



195 



■« 



W-r. 



considered the birth-day of Nashua, and forms 
an important epoch in its history. 

Let us endeavor to picture to ourselves Nashua 
Village as it appeared July 4th, 1803. A large, 
one story dwelling house stood on the site of the 
Indian Head Coffee House, (of which it now 
forms a part) and was kept as a tavern by Timo- 
thy Taylor, Esq. A large, one story store, 
owned and conducted by Robert Fletcher, who 
resided in Amherst, stood where Kendrick & 
Tuttle's store now stands. Abbot and Fox's 
office was a dwelling house occupied by "uncle " 
John Lund, his brother and sisters. A dwelUng 
house, three stories in front and two in rear, had 
just been erected by Mr. Fletcher, but was then 
unfinished. It stood on the north-east corner 
of Main and Franklin streets, opposite the Bap- 
tist meeting house, and here upon a temporary 
platform the oration was deUvered. The Amherst 
and Concord roads with Main street, and a road 
down the northern bank of the Nashua to the 
Boating house and Ferries were all the highways 
then existing. 

At the Harbor the dwelling house of Gen. 
Noah Lovewell, now occupied by Hon. Jesse 
Bowers, with two other small houses on the south 
side of Salmon Brook, were the only buildings. 
As the greater part of the inhabitants lived west 
and south of this, the meeting house was built 
on the little triangle in front of Silas Gibson's 
house. Here was the largest village in town, a 
tavern, store, shops, and dwellings, and here resi- 
ded the physician and the lawyer, (Mr. Abbot.) 
But in September, 1803, the ''Old Tontine,'' the 
long, low, building at the head of Main street, in 
Nashville, was built, and soon after occupied by 
Mr. Abbot, (who removed here Dec. 1, 1803;) 
Dr. Elias Maynard, physician ; Dea. James Pat- 

n7 



196 



-;3 



HISTORY OF 



terson, bookbinder, and a Mr. Clements, saddler. 
There was no dam across the Nashua, and its 
waters flowed far down its natural channel over 
its rocky bed. The ^^pilgriws'' who then set- 
tled here must have seen some light from the 
future breaking through the surrounding dark- 
ness, for there was not a building between Salmon 
Brook and i>ashua river, and a broad, un fenced, 
desolate, white-pine forest spread in every direc- 
tion beyond. 

In 1803 a Post Office v%''as first established in 
town, and Gen. Noali Lovewell appointed Post 
Master. Previously letters for this town were re- 
ceived from the Post Office at Tyngsborough. (1.) 

In 1804 a farther impulse was given to the 
growth and business of the village by the com- 
pletion and opening of the Middlesex canal. — 
This opened a direct channel of communication 
with Boston, and rendered the place, as the head 
of navigation, one of considerable trade. Hith- 
erto the principal markets of this region had been 
Haverhill and Newbury port. 

From this period the growth of the settlement 
was gradi]al, but constant. The whole plain, 
upon which the village stands, was covered with 
its native growth of pines, and was considered 
generally of but very little value. " Dunstable 
Plains" were often the subject of nuich merri- 
ment, and seemed to some the embodiment of the 
idea of poverty of soil. It is said that some 
wicked wag, in our Legislature, once undertook 
to disparage our soil, declaring that "it would 
not support one chipping squirrel to the acre :" 
but this, as well as the story that " a grasshopper 
was once seen perched upon the top of a dry 
mullen stalk, with the tears rolling down his 
cheeks, looking in vain to discover one stalk of 



(1.) See history of the Post Office in Appendix. 



-rst 



sr=- 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



197 



green grass," is a grievous slander, and a device 
of the enemy. 

The soil of our plains was, indeed, naturally- 
sandy and barren, and of little value for culti- 
vation when other and more desirable locations 
for tillage were scattered all around. From this 
circumstance, we may believe the statement to 
be quite credible, that the riseo( Main street from 
the Bridge over Nashua river, to the present 
place of Messrs. Kendrick & Tuttle's store in 
Nashville, was '• the woj^st hill between Amherst 
and Boston." We must remember, however, 
hat a great change has taken place in its appear- 
ance and situation. The present bridge is raised 
some twenty or twenty-five feet above the old 
one, the water under the present bridge being not 
the natural stream, but a pond occasioned by the 
dam at Indian Head, and many feet in depth. — 
While the bridge has been raised many feet and 
the road filled in accordingly, the slope of the hill 
on either side of the river has been cut down, 
and srraded, so that the ascent now, in either 
direction, is comparatively slight. 

In iS12, the old meeting house, which stood 
in the little square in front of the Gibson tavern, 
and which had been standing there more than 
sixty years, had become too old and dilapidated 
to answer the purposes of its erection. A new 
and more costly house was built accordingly, 
nearly half a mile norilierly of the old one. — 
This is the one now called''* the Old South," 
and was dedicated November 4, 1812, upon which 
occasion the sermon Vv^as preached \)y Rev, Hum- 
phrey Moore, of Mil ford, (i.) 

November 3, 1813, Rev. Ebenezer T. Sperry 
was ordained, as the colleague of Rev. Mr. Kid- 
der. He remained in Dunstable until April, 



(I.) This sermon was prioted. 



I 

^^1; 



198 HISTORY OF 



1819, when he was dismissed, and has been Chap- 
lain of the House of Correction, at South Boston. 
During his ministry, September 6, 1818, Rev. 
Mr. Kidder died, aged 77, on which occasion a 
discourse was deUvered by Rev. H. Moore. (I.) 

About 1817, a dam was thrown across Nashua 
river, a few rods above Main street ; a Grist-mill 
erected at one end of it by Dea. James Patter- 
son, and a saw-mill at the other by Willard 
Marshall. Some time after, another dam was 
built near the spot, where the present dam of the 
Jackson Company stands, and a mill erected.— 
At this time the village had increased so much 
that it contained about a dozen or tv%^enty houses, 
and being a central thoroughfare had become a 
place of considerable business. The population 
of the town was 1,142. 

In 1820, when the census was taken, there 
were returned from Dunstable : 1 meetinghouse; 
9 school districts and school houses; 6 taverns; 
5 stores; 3 saw mills: 3 grist mills; 1 clothing 
mill; 1 carding machine; 2 bark mills; 3 tan- 
neries. 

Soon after 1820, public attention began to be 
turned towards manufactures. Many years pre- 
viously Judge Tyng, of Tyngsborough, in a 
conversation with George Sullivan, predicted that 
the valley of the Merrimac would be a great 
manufacturing region, and he pointed out the 
locations at Lowell, at Nashua, and at Amos- 
keag. (2.) 

It was considered a visionary idea, but what 
was then prophecy is now history. The erection 
of mills at Lowell awakened the minds of enter- 

(1.) This discnurse was also published, and appended lo it is a 
short skeich of the Ecclesiastical historj'of the town, drawn by up 
Rev. Mr. Sperry. 

(2.) My authority for this statement, is his grand-daughter, Mrs. 
Brinley. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



199 



prising men and of capitalists, to the manufac- 
turing advantages of other places. The leading 
citizens of the town seem to have been pecu- 
liarly far-sighted, public spirited, and energetic, 
and the manufacturing capacities of Nashua 
river did not escape their notice. 

The idea, which first suggested itself, was that 
of building mills at Mine Falls ; the water power 
was great, and a saw mill had been erected there 
at a very early period, probably before 1700. It 
was not, however, for some time that the idea 
occurred to them of erecting the mills upon their 
present location, and building up a village here, 
by bringing the water from Mine Falls by means 
of a canal. It was a great undertaking, and of 
doubtful result, but a survey was made, and its 
practicability ascertained. 

The few individuals, who had conceived the 
idea, formed an association, and in 1822 and 
1823, purchased the greater portion of the lands 
in and around the village, and up to the Falls. — 
In June, 1823, a charter was granted to Daniel 
Abbot, Moses Tyler, Joseph Greeley, and others, 
by the name of the "Nashua Manufacturing 
Company," with a right to increase their capital 
to one million dollars. The capital stock was at 
first fixed by them at ^300,000 ; and was divided 
into three hundred shares, of $1,000 each. Of 
these Daniel Webster took 60 shares ; Daniel Ab- 
bot 30 shares; J., E. & A. Greeley 30 shares ; 
Augustus Peabody 75 shares ; Benj. F. French 
30 shares ; Foster & Kendrick 30 shares ; John 
Kendrick 15 shares ; Moses Tyler 30 shares. 

In 1824, a considerable portion of the stock 
was disposed of to capitalists, and the works 
were commenced. The dam at Mine Falls was 
built, and the excavation of the canal began 
under the superintendence of Col. J^mes F. Bald- 



200 



-^ 



HISTORY OF 



win. This canal, which snpphes the water for 
the factories of the Nashua Manufacturing Com- 
pany, is about three miles in length, 60 feet wide, 
and 6 feet deep, and affords a head and fall of 
about 33 feet. Ira Gay, Esq., was also engaged 
as machinist, and Col. William Eoardman as 
wheel-wright and engineer ; and the first Factory 
was commenced. December 25, 1824, the Ma- 
chine Shop was completed and went into opera- 
tion. The works advanced. Mill No. 1, of the 
Nashua Corporation was erected and went into 
partial operation in December, 1825, and into 
full operation in 1826. 

In December, 1824, a charter was obtained by 
the Nashua Manufacturing Company for the pur- 
pose of building '' a canal with the necessary 
dams and locks " to connect the Nashua with the 
Merrimac. They were built in 1825, and opened 
for the transportation of goods in the spring of 
1826. The lower dam across the Nashua was 
built at this time. The Locks are of solid stone, 
24 feet high; each lift being ten feet wide and 
eighty-two long. They were built under the su- 
perintendence of Col. Baldwin, and cost $20,000. 
The canal dam cost a further sum of $10,000. — 
This canal was of very great advantage to the 
rising village, which was now becoming the cen- 
tre of business for the neighboring towns, by af- 
fording such increased facilities for the transpor- 
tation of goods and produce, and its beneficial 
effects were soon sensibly felt in the increase of 
trade and enterprise. 

In May 1825, a portion of the lower water priv- 
ilege, now occupied by the Jackson Company, 
was sold by the Nashua Manufacturing Compa- 
ny to Charles C. Haven and others, who were 
incorporated by the name of the " Indian Head 
Company.'' for the purpose of erecting Woollen 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



201 



Factories. Their works were commenced imme- 
diately, and went into operation in 1826, under 
the agency of Mr. Haven. 

In 1825, the meeting house, now occupied by 
Rev. Mr. Richards's Society, was erected by the 
Nashua Company ; and November 8th. 1826, Rev. 
Handel G. Nott was settled over the church and 
society, which had been destitute since the dis- 
mission of Mr. Sperry, a period of eighteen years. 
In 1834 the society was divided, in consequence 
of a change in the sentiments of their pastor, and 
the church, in its organized capacity, under the 
name of the ''First Congregational Church in 
Nashua," left the meeting house in possession of 
Rev. Mr. Nott's society, and worshipped for a 
time in Greeley's Hall. They invited Rev. Jon- 
athan McGee to become their pastor, and his in- 
stallation took place January 1, 1835. During 
the same year a spacious meeting house was 
erected at an expense of more than $10,000. — 
June 8th. 1842, Mr. McGee was dismissed and 
Rev. Matthew Hale Smith was installed October 
19th. of the same year. Mr. Smith was dismiss- 
ed August 20th. 1845, and Rev. Samuel Lamson, 
the present pastor, was installed April 8th. 1846. 
This church consists of 450 members, and has 
connected with it a Sabbath school, which usual- 
ly numbers more than 300 scholars. There is a 
library for the use of the school. There are two 
benevolent societies sustained by the ladies, a 
Maternal Society and a Young Men's Missionary 
Association. Contributions are annually taken 
up in aid of the following objects : the Foreign 
and Home Missionary, the Education, Oible, 
Tract and Seaman's Friend Societies, wuh other 
occasional objects of benevolence. 

A portion of the church, embracing 14.2 members, 
remained with Mr. Nott's society, and formed a 



vfec 



202 



HISTORY OF 



new church, which was organized Oct. 26, 1835, 
under the name of the " First Congregational 
Church in Nashua Yillage." Feb.9, 1846, thenanie 
of this church was changed to " OUve Street Con- 
gregational Church." Shortly after the change 
in Mr. Nott's views, he withdrew from his con- 
nection with the church and society, and Rev. 
Austin Richards, the present pastor, was install- 
ed April 6th. 1836. The number of church mem- 
bers at the present time, (1846.) is 506. The 
Sabbath school contains 500 scholars, and has a 
library of 409 volumes. With the exception of 
the Ladies' Charity Circle and the Seaman's 
Friend Society, there are no regularly organized 
benevolent societies distinct from the church, but 
contributions are taken up during each year for 
the benefit of the Foreign and Home Missionary, 
the Tract, Bible, Education, Sabbath School. Sea- 
man's Friend, and Foreign Evangelical Societies. 

In the Fall of 1824 and spring of 1825, fifty 
new tenements or more had been erected, and all 
was bustle and prosperity. In 1825 a new bridge 
was built over the Nashua river in Main street, 
in consequence of the raising of the water by the 
dam at Indian Head. Lots of land were selling 
at the rate of " about $1,000 per acre," according 
to the report of the Directors for that year. 

In 1826 a charter was granted to several indi- 
viduals, by the name of the '' Proprietors of Tay- 
lor's Falls Bridge," for the purpose of building a 
bridge across the Merrimac. At this time the 
people crossed by a ferry, there being no bridge 
across the river between Lowell and Amoskeag. 
This bridge was completed and opened for public 
travel the same year. It is thirty-three rods in 
length, and its total cost v/as about §12,000. It 
was no small undertaking in the then feeble state 
of the village, and was deemed by many persons 



*!=: 



a hazardous investment, but the prosperity of the 
piace required it. and success has rewarded the 
effort. 

In tlie winter and spring of 1S27, the Unita- 
rian church was erected. The society enjoyed 
preaching in 1824: and from 1825 to 1826, liired 
and occupied the meeting house built by the 
Nashua Company. June 27, 1S27, the church 
was dedicated, and Rev. Nathaniel Gage ordain- 
ed. In 1834 Mr, Gage asked a dismission : and 
in 1835, Rev. Henry Emmons was ordained 
as pastor. In 1837 Mr. Emmons also asked a 
dismission, and May 16, 1838, Rev. Samuel Os- 
good was ordained; In December 1841, Mr. Os- 
good requested a dismission, having received an 
invitation to settle at Providence, R. I. From 
this time the society was without a settled min- 
ister until October 25, 1843, when Rev. A. C. L. 
Arnold was ordained. He was dismissed August 
25, 1844. Rev, S. G. Bulfinch, the present pas- 
tor, was installed vSeptember 17, 1845. The 
Sabbath School consists of 112 pupils. There 
is a S. S. Library containing about 400 volumes, 
and a Church Library of 180 volumes. A 33e- 
nevolent Circle is sustained by the ladies of the 
society. 

March 19, 1835, the proprietors appropriated 
the grounds around the meeting house to the 
purpose of a burial place, under the name of the 
Nashua Cemetery. Of this an account will be 
given in the Appendix. 

In 1827, Mill No. 2, of the Nashua Corporation 
was built and went into partial operation, and 
into full operation in 1828. Mill No. 3, was built 
in 1836. Mill No. 1, is 155 feet long, 45 feet 
wide, and 5 stories high. It contains 6,784 spin- 
dles, and 220 looms, manufacturing No. 14 shirt- 
ings and drills. Mill No. 2, is 15B feet long, 45 



18 



204 



-il 



HISTORY OF 



feet wide, and 6 stories high. It contains 12,- 
170 spindles, and 315 looms, which manufacture 
No. 24 printhig cloths and jeans. Mill No. 3, 
is 160 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 5 stories high. 
It contains 6,400 spindles, and 205 looms, and 
manufactures No. 14 sheetings. Mill No, 4, was 
built in 1844, and was put into operation in De- 
cember of the same year. It is 198 feet long, 50 
feet wide, and 5 stories high, and contains 6,720 
spindles, and 200 looms, manufacturing No. 12 
sheetings. The whole number of spindles in the 
four mills is 32,074, looms 940. Number of fe- 
male operatives 835. Number of males 225. — 
These mills manufacture 11,500,000 yds. of cloth 
per annum : and use 8,000 bales of cotton, weigh- 
ing 3,250,000 lbs., 150,000 lbs. starch, 8,000 gal- 
lons sperm oil, $1250 worth leather, 700 cords 
of hard and pine wood, annually. There are 48 
tenements for overseers and boarding houses, and 
two brick houses for the agent and clerk. Thom- 
as W. Gillis, Esq., is the agent; J. A. Baldwin, 
clerk. The capital is .^800,000; the number of 
shares 1600, at ^500 each. 

The Savings Bank deposites in 1S45 were 
$44,000, by 364 depositers, three fourths of whom 
are females. No interest is allowed on any sum 
exceeding $500, and the privileges of the Bank 
are limited to individuals in the employ of the 
company. The rate of interest is 5 per cent. — 
On the first of June of every year interest is 
credited on all amounts and added to the princi- 
pal, and interest computed on the total sum from 
that date, — thus giving to those who permit their 
savings to remain in the hands of the company 
for any length of time, the advantage of com- 
pound interest. The following table, arranged 
October 13, 1845, shows the number of females 
employed in the N. M. Co.'s Mills and the pro- 







A 






NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



205 



m 



portion thereof who attend meeting, are members 
of the Sabbath School, and are professors of re- 
hgion : 





Whole 
no.grirl? 
em pi' J. 


No. who 
attf'Dci 
meeting 


Attend Memh's 

Sab. of 
School, cliurch's 


No. 1 xMill, 


214 


194 


116 


67 


No. 2 Mill, 


216 


206 


131 


82 


No. 3 Mill, 


192 


167 


88 


52 


No. 4 Mill, 


170 


151 


73 


43 


Cloth Room, 
Total, 


8 


8 


3 


6 


800 1 726 411 1250] 



About 1828, the Indian Head Compan}?- became 
embarrassed, and soon after the works stopped. 
The whole property was then disposed of to a 
new company, which was incorporated in 1830 
by the name of the Jackson Company. They 
took out the old piachinery, and converted the 
establishment into a cotton manufactory. The 
capital stock of this company is $480,000. They 
have two Mills, 150 and 155 feet in length, by 
48 feet in width, and 4 stories high. These 
contain 11,588 spindles and 378 looms, and em- 
ploy 90 males and 350 females. The amount 
paid males per annum, is $30,000, — to females, 
$60,000. They use 5,000 bales of cotton a year, 
averaging 400 pounds each, from which they 
manufacture five and a half million yards of cloth 



of the following kinds : 46 and 37 inch sheetings, 
and 30 inch shirtings, all of No. 14 yarn. The 
value of wood per annum is $2,500; oil $3,700; 
starch $2,500; leather $1,000. The amount of 
deposites in the Savings Bank is $18,000, on 
which 5 per cent, compound interest is allowed. 
The depositing is confined to operatives, and no 
interest is allowed on any sum over $500. The 
number of depositers is 150. The agent of the 



206 HISTORY OF 



company is Edmund Parker, Esq.; George F. ij 

Beckj clerk. jj 

In February. 1827, the first newspaper was jj 

established in tov/n by Andrew E. Thayer, Esq.. ! 

and called the ^'Nashua Constellation^ After i! 

a short time it passed into the hands of Israel || 

Hunt, Jr., Esq., and its name changed to " The || 

Nashua Gazette:^ Its present editor is William )| 

Butterfield. jj 

In 1830, the population of Dunstable had in- ji 

creased to 2,417 of which number about 1.500 !j 

resided within the village. 'j 

In the winter of 1831, a new paper called the if 

^^ Nashua Herald^' was started by Dr. Simeon ij 

J. Bard, but it did not prosper, and was soon ij 

given up. In September, 1832, the " Nevj Hanip- \ 

shire Telegraph,^^ a weekly paper, was establish- • 

ed by Alfred Beard, and is now conducted by iJ 

.A.lbin Beard. " The Oasts''' was established in Ij 

January, 1843. by Murray & Sawtell. and is noVv>- |i 

published every Wednesday morning, by Murray !i 

& Kimball. jj 

In the fall of 1832, the First Baptist Society \\ 

was organized, and obtained its present pastor, jj 

Rev. Dura D. Pratt. It was formed as early as | 

1818, and a church organized in 1822 ; but they j 

were few and feeble, and preaching was main- ij 

tained but a small portion of the time. A large ji 

and commodious meeting house v/as now erected, \\ 

at a cost of nearly §8,000 ; and January 23, 1833, jj 

it was dedicated, and Rev. Mr. Pratt ordained. !'[ 

The church now comprises over 500 members, jj 

The Sabbath School consists of 350 members, || 

and has a library of 300 volumes. | 

The First Methodist Episcopal Society was i! 

organized November 3, 1832. A meeting house ;j 

was erected in 1833, and enlarged, and a parson- f| 

age attached in 1837. Their ministers have been i] 

Zlj 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



207 



as follows:— Rev. A. P. Brigliam, 1S34 ; Rev. 
Wm. D. Cass. 1835; Rev. Wm. H. Hatch, 1836; 
Rev. Jared Perkins, 1838; Rev. Samuel Kelley, 
1840 : Rev. J. W. Mowry, Rev. L. D. Barrows, 
Rev. J. Smith. Rev. Mr. Pike is the present 
pastor. 

April 1, 1844, after the separation of Nashville, 
a new church was organized, under the name of 
the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Nashua, 
and during the same year the society purchased 
th© meeting house formerly occupied by the 
Second Baptist Society, for |15,000, about half 
the original cost. Rev. E. A. Rice, of Lowell, 
Mass., supplied the pulpit for ihe first three 
months. From July 1, 1844, to July 1, 1845, 
the church was under the pastoral care of Rev. 
O. C. Burr. Rev. J. Boyce is the present pastor. 
This church contains 160 members. There arc 
268 scholars in the Sabbath School, and 360 vol- 
umes in the library. 

From 1830 to 1837 the growth of the village 
was rapid and constant. The population of the 
village had nearly trebled in number. Trade 
and travel had increased proportionally. In the 
spring of 1835, the project was conceived of ex- 
tending the Lov/ell Railroad to Nashua. June 
23, 1835, a charter for this purpose was granted, 
by the Legislature of New Hampshire; and by 
that of Massachusetts, April 16, 1836. in 1836, 
the preparatory surveys were made and the loca- 
tion filed. Uriah A. Boyden, Esq., was engaged 
as engineer. In May, 1837, the work upon the 
road was commenced, and October 8, 1838, the 
Nashua and Lowell Railroad was first opened 
for the transportation of passengers as far as the 
great elms ne'dr Judge Parker's house, where a 
temporary depot was erected, December 23, 
1838, the bridge over the Nashua^ and the depot 



18" 



208 HISTORY OF 



near Main street, were completed, and the cars ! 
for the first time came up to the present terminus. }| 
The length of the road is about fourteen and a |j 
half miles, exclusive of double tracks, and its ': 
total cost about $380,000, or about $25,000 per 
mile, including fixtures and apparatus. 

June 27, 1835, the Concord Railroad Company 
was incorporated. This Railroad was commenc- 
ed in the spring of 1841, under the direction of 
William S. Whitwell, Esq., as engineer, and fin- 
ished to Concord, September 1, 1842. Its length 
is 34 miles, 3048 feet. The net profits have been 
10 per cent, per annum from its commencement. 
The amount of capital is ^800,000. The officers 
of the Road are : 

Addison Gilmore, of Boston, President. 

Isaac Spalding, of Nashua, Treasurer. 

Charles H. Peaslee, of Concord, Clerk. 

.Ume 19, 1S35, the Nashua Bank was incorpo^ Ij 

rated, with a capital of $100,000 ; and went into ;. 

operation soon after. ji 

In 1835, the steamboat Herald was also built, ij 
and placed upon the Merrimac in the summer of 
1836. It was intended to ply between Nashua 

and Lowell, but the shortness of the distance, — i 

the inconvenience of the landing places, and the ■ 

necessity for the shifting of passengers and bag- i 

gage, rendered the enterprise a failure. .'■ 

In 1835, the First Universalist Society was j 

organized, under the pastoral charge of Rev. jj 

Woodbury M. Fernald. He preached until 1837, n 

when Rev. A. P. Cleverly became their preacher. !' 

In 1839, a large meeting house was erected, and \\ 

in October of that year. Rev. Lewis C. Browne was ': 

ordained as their pastor. In consequence of ill ;! 

health, Mr, Browne requested a dismission in Sep- \\ 

tember. 1848, and Rev. Wm. H. Ryder, the pres- j 

ent pastor, wa?; installed December 25lh. r^i' the J 



^zz 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



209 



The church was organized in 1841, 
104 members. There are two be- 



same year. 
and contains 
nevolent societies sustained by the ladies of the 
society. The Sabbath School embraces 20 teach- 
ers, and 175 scholars. The Sabbath School Li- 
brary numbers 600 volumes. 

In April, 1836, the population had increased to 
5065, of which number 2105 were males, and 
2960 females. 

During this year, a Second Baptist Society Vv^as 
formed under Rev. N. W. Smith, and a meeting 
house erected.. In 1838,. Rev. Samuel C. Pratt 
was ordained as its pastor. In 1839, the society 
was again united to the First Baptist Society. 

.January 1, 1837, the township laid aside its 
ancient name of Dunstable, which it had worn 
from its infancy, through good and evil fortune 
a hundred and sixty years, under which it had 
witnessed two revolutions and formed a portion 
of a Colony, a Province, and a sovereign State, 
— under which it had passed through many wars, 
and grown up from obscurity and poverty ; and 
adopted in order to distinguish it from its neigh- 
bor " t'other Dunstable," its present name, tliat 
of the river from Vv'hich its prosperity is chiefly 
derived — Nashua. 

The First Free-Will Baptist Church was or- 
ganized November, 1838, and was under the pas- 
toral care of Elder Silas Curtis, to September, 
1839. He was succeeded by Elder Thomas M. 
Preble, who was dismissed September, 1841. In 
December of the same year, Elder Benjamin 
Phelon was chosen pastor. He was dismissed 
December, 1842, since which time the church 
has been without a settled pastor. Religious ser- 
vices have been regularly observed every sabbath. 



Tl 



le 



The number of church memt)ers is 

Sabbath School numbers 56 members, and has a 



:tS 



<&- 



210 HISTORY OF 

Library of 150 volumes. The present house of 
worship was erected in 1844, at an expense of 
^600. Rev. S. Stearns is the present minister. 

In 1840, the First Christian Society was organ- 
ized under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Robin- 
son. They have no meeting house. 

In November, 1845, the services of the Protes- 
tant Episcopal Church were, for the first time, 
regularly observed in Nashua. The court-room 
of the town house has been occupied for this 
purpose. Rev. Milton Ward is the ofiicialing 
minister. 

In 1845, a large machine shop, built of brick 
and slated, was erected by the Nashua Company 
on the site of the old one. The main building is 
150 feet long, with an addition of 158 feet, used 
for* a blacksmith's shop, furnace, &c. The main 
building is occupied by shuttle and bobbin makers, 
locksmiths, gunsmiths, manufacturers of axes, 
hoes, ploughs, and by artisans in other branches. 
The whole number of workmen employed in the 
building is two hundred and eighteen. A portion 
of this building is occupied by the extensive es- 
tablishment of Messrs. J. & E. Baldwin, for the 
manufacture of shuttles and bobbins, which gives 
employment to a number of workm.en. 

The manufacturing business of the Nashua 
Lock Company is also done here. This estab- 
lishment, of which L. W. Noyes and David Bald- 
win are the proprietors, is employed in the manu- 
facture of mortise locks and latches for dwelling 
house doors, and rose wood and brass knobs for 
the handles of the same. They usually have in 
their employment about 40 men, and manufac- 
tured, during the last year, $35,000 worth of 
goods. These manufactures embraced 50,617 
locks and latches, and 35,000 pairs of rose wood 
knobs. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



211 



^ 



x\nother portion of this shop is occupied by 
Mr. John H. Gage for building turning engines, 
machines for planing iron, engines for cutting 
gears, scroll chucks, and all other tools requisite 
to fill a large machine shop for building cotton 
and other machinery, and for doing railroad 
work. Mr. Gage now employs sixty-four work- 
men, and does business to the amount of about 
$40,000 per annum. 

The ^'- Nashua Manufacturing and Mechanics 
Association " was chartered January 2, 1829, 
with liberty to have a capital to the extent of 
$30,000. This company was organized under 
the charter August, 1845. The present capital 
is $10,000, with 200 shares at $50 each. The 
contemplation is to erect a brick building 100 feet 
long, two stories high, with two wings, each 150 
feet long and 40 feet wide, one story, with an 
attic. The work in this shop is to be conducted 
by means of a steam engine of fifty horse power, 
and is intended to embrace all kinds of mechanical 
work similar to the Nashua Company's shop. — ■ 
One wing of the building is now completed, and 
is occupied by Mr. Edv/in Chase, for the manu- 
facture of doors, window blinds and sashes. 

The officers of this association are : 

Thomas Chase, President, 
Thomas Ckase, 1 
L. W. NoYEs, i 



Bartlett Hoyt, 
Israel Hunt, jr., 
John H. Gage, 



) Directors, 

I 

J 



John A. Baldwin, Treasurer. 
Francis Winch, Clerk. 

In the summer of 1845, the Iron Foundry of 
S. & C. Williams was erected. They manufac- 
ture, from pig iron, 4000 pounds of castings per 



, 212 HISTOKY OF 



|r day, and consiiuie in the same time, 1300 pounds 
liehigh coal and six feet of wood. Their ar- 
rangements are such that they can melt nine or 
ten tons of iron at a melting, or eighteen tons in 
twelve hours. They now employ thirty men, 
and have room for twenty more. The amount 
of their business is not far from $40,000 a year. 

In 1845, Mr. Alanson Crane commenced a 
cotton manufacturing establishment on Salmon 
Brook at the Harbor. His mill is 30 by 40 feet 
on the ground, two stories high, v/ith an attic. 
When in full operation this mill will contain 500 
spindles, for making cotton yarn of various num- 
bers and qualities. The yarn, when manufac- 
tured, is worked up into braids and cords of va- 
rious descriptions ; also twine for weavers' har- 
nesses, knitting cotton, &c. The number of op- 
eratives employed is 20, 4 males and 16 females. 
About $30,000 worth of goods are manufactured 
annually. A dye house is connected with this 
establishment for dyeing braids, cords, yarn, &c. 
From a survey recently made it is estimated that 
there is sufficient water running in Salmon Brook 
to operate 1500 spindles, and Mr. Crane contem- 
plates erecting another mill with about 1000 spin- 
dles and looms for the manufacture of cotton 
shirtings, sheetings, and drillings. 

At the annual meeting of the town of Nashua, 
Ma:rch, 1842, it was voted to erect a Town House. 
Of this structure, now completed, an account will 
be given in the Appendix. 

Tn 1842, the town of Nashua was divided, and 
a part of the territory, chiefly lying north of the 
Nashua river, received the name of Nashville. — 
The following act of incorporation, passed by the 
Legislature, June 23, 1842, defines the limits of 
the new town : 



; I 



i 

SScr 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of ji 



IS,- 



NASHUA. NASHVILLE. &U. 



213 






Representatives in General Court convened.— 
That all that part of the town of Nashua, in 
the County of Hillsborough, lying westerly and 
northerly of a line commencing upon the Nashua 
river at the east side of Hollis, and running 
thence down said river, to the bridge erected over 
said river by ilie Nashua and Lowell Raih'oad 
Company ; thence from ihe southwest corner of* 
said bridge, eastvvardly by said railroad to the 
Old Ferry road so called, thence by said last 
mentioned road to the Merrimack river, be and 
the same is severed from the town of Nashua, 
and made a body politic and corporate, by the 
name of Nashville.'' 

The town was organized July 11, 1842. 

" What a contrast our villages now present to 
their condition but tiveiity-slx years ago ! Then 
there was one small religious society, without a 
minister : now there are ten, most of them in a 
flourishing condition, and enjoying the services 
of settled clergymen. Then there was one meet- 
ing house : now there are seven others, built at 
an expense of more than §45,000. It is a singu- 
lar fact that for more than 100 years not a settled 
minister died in town. Then the receipts of the 
Post office were about $250 yearly and now they 
exceed .§2,500. Then a single stage coach pass- 
ed three times a week through the village. Now 
there are six daily lines, live tri- weekly lines, and 
two weeklies, besides extras and the railroad. — 
Then two stores supplied the town and neighbor- 
hood. Now there are near a hundred, several of 
which are wholesale stores, with an aggregate 
trade of more than half a million dollars. Then 
a canal boat dragging its " slow length along,'' 
and occupying days in its passage, laid our goods 
at the mouth of the Nashua : now by the magical 
power of steam they are brought to our doors al- 



214 HISTORY OF 



'-m 



most in as many hours. The httle village of less 
than fifty souls has increased one hundred and 
fifty fold. By the wondrous alchemy of skill and 
enterprise, out of the waters of the Nashua and 
the sands of this pine barren, from some half do- 
zen dwellings, have been raised up within these 
twenty-six years these thronged, and beautiful 
villages of near seven thousand people. 

Wc have now traced this History through a 
period of nearly two centuries. Prom its wilder- 
ness state, by toil and privations, by bloodshed 
and sufferings, by enterprise and capital combin- 
ed, has this place been brought to its present con- 
dition. Its prosperity must now depend upon its 
j trade and manufactures, and for the increase of 
I them every effort should be made. Its central 
I position and its facilities of transportation are ad- 
! vantages, which cannot be too highly appreciated. 
i The multiplication of shops and stores, and the 
! amount of their trade, are evidences of what has 
I been accomplished by enterprise, and offer strong 
' encoura2;ements for the future. Other manufac- 
I lures besides cotton are creeping in, thus far with 
great success, and should be encouraged. The 
manufactures of shuttles and bobbins, locks, guns, 
I ploughs, edge tools, machinery, iron, brass, and 
tin ware, carriages, saddlery, sashes, blinds, doors, 
hats, caps, boots and shoes, reeds, cigars, furni- 
ture, time-pieces, boxes, stoves, and of patent 
leather, and book-binding, employ a large amount 
of capital and furnish employment to a large 
number of persons. 

When we consider the ease and cheapness of 
communication with Boston and the comparative 
lowness of the price of land, of materials, and of 
board among us, it is manifest that all kinds of 
manufactures may be greatly extended and mul- 
tiplied, and to much advantage. If all will but 



^ — .^ - ^ 

NASHUA, NASHVILLE, ScC. 215 

labor permanently for this end, thus, and thus 
only, will the means of support be afforded to ad- 
ditional thousands, a market for all the neighbor- 
hood furnished, and the foundation be laid, broad 
and deep, and immovable, for the permanent 
prosperity of Nashua and Nashville, 



"19 



«■- 



CHAPTER XV. 



NOTICES OF TOWNS INCLUDED IN OLD DUN- 
STABLE. 

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF HUDSON. 

We have seen that this town was included in 
the original grant of Dunstable, «and was set off 
into a separate township by the General Assem- 
bly of Massachusetts in 1732, by the name of 
Nottingham. After the establishment of the boun- 
dary line, by which it fell within the limits and 
jurisdiction of New Hampshire, it received a new 
act of incarporation, July 5, 1746, and its name 
was changed to Nottingham West, there being 
already a Nottingham in the eastern section of 
the state. A small addition was made to its ter- 
ritory, by annexing a part of Londonderry, March 
6, 1778, and the township now contains 17,379 
acres. July 1, 1830, its name was changed by 
the Legislature to Hudson. 

Hudson was not settled until after 1710, al- 
though several tracts of land within its bounds 
were granted before 1660. The names of some 
of the early settlers were Blodgett, Colburn, 
Cross, (taken captive at Dunstable, in 1724,) 
Oummings, Greeley, Hill, Lovewell, Marsh, 
Merrill, Pollard, and Winn. The first settle- 
ments were made on the banks of the Merrimac 
where the Indians had cleared fields for cultiva- 
ting corn. The first settlers lived in garrisons, 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



217 



but there is no record that any depredations were 
ever committed by the Indians in this town. — 
Near the Indian cornfields have been found cin- 
ders, like those of a blacksmith's forge, which 
have led to the conjecture that they employed a 
smith to manufacture their implements of war 
and agriculture. 

November 30, 1737, a Congregational church 
was formed, and on the same day Rev. Nathan- 
iel Merrill was ordained its pastor. His relation 
as pastor to the church continued until his death 
in 1796, although his civil contract with the town 
was dissolved in 1774. Rev. Jabez Pond Fisher 
succeeded Mr. Merrill, and was ordained Feb. 
24, 1796, but was dismissed in 1801. July 3, 
1774, Rev. John Strickland was ordained, but af- 
ter a few years was dismissed by the town. In 
1805 a Baptist church was organized, over which 
Rev. Daniel Merrill officiated from 1814 to 1819. 
In 1816 the Congregational church changed their 
form of government and united with the Presby- 
terians. In 1842 a new house of worship was 
erected by this society ; Rev. William Page is the 
present pastor. In 1840, a society was formed 
and a meeting house erected by the Methodists ; 
Rev. Matthew Nev/hall is the officiating minister. 
In 1841 a meeting House was erected by the 
Baptist society, and Rev. Joseph Storer was set- 
tled as pastor- 
Hudson contains no lawyer and but one phy- 
sician, Dr. Henry M. Hooke. There are ten dis- 
trict schools, for the support of which in 1845 
$700 were expended. Of this sum $430 were 
raised by the town, $156 given by the inhabi- 
tants in boarding teachers, $84 were derived from 
interest of the surplus revenue, and $30 from the 
Literary Fund. 
In April 1776, before the Declaration of Inde- 



ij - — - n 

: 218 HISTORY OF i 

pendence, the following Test Oath was sent out 
I to each town in the state: " We the subscribers 
j do hereby solemnly engage and promise that we 
j will to the utmost of our power, at the risque of 
I our lives and fortunes, with arms oppose the Hos- 
! tile Proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies 
i against the United American Colonies." Every 
j person was required to sign this Test, or be look- 
1 ed upon as an enemy to his country. These Test 
' Oaths were returned to the Convention then in 
I session, and a large portion of them still exist. — 
j In Hudson 119 signed the pledge, and one only, 
! Capt. Joseph Kelley, refused to sign. (1.) 

In the old French war of 1756, two_ soldiers 
i from Hudson, Amos Pollard and Asa Worcester, 
were in the army, in Canada. During the Revo- 
; lutionary war a large number of soldiers from 
Hudson were in the army. Jacob Blodgett, Ste- 
phen Chase, Joshua Severance, Joseph Greeley, 
who was wounded, and Nehemiah Winn, were in 
Capt. Walker's Company at Bunker Hill. In 
1777, Hudson contained 124 males from sixlee?i 
to Jiff't/ years of age, and was bound to furnish 
fifteen soldiers for every draft made for the army. 
The following is a list of the Representatives 
to the General Court from Hudson, from 1775 to 
1783, and since 1793: 

Capt. Abraham Paige, 1775, 1776. 
Asa Davis, for Hudson and Litchfield, 1777, 
1779. 

(1778, 1780, see Litchfield.) 
WiUiam Burns, 1781, 1782. 
Asa Davis, 1793, 1794, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 
1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808. 

Col. Joseph Greeley, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1811, 
1815, 1816. 

(1.) The Test Returns from Dunstable, Hollis, Merrimac, and 
Litchfield are not to he found. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 219 



-Si 



Robert Patterson, 1809, 18 LO. 

Isaac Colburn, 1812. 

Isaac Merrill, 1813, 1814, 1817. 

Noah Robinson, 1818, 1820, 1821. 

Thomas B. Mason, 1819, 1828, 1830, 1831, 
1833, 1835, 1836. 

Caleb S. Ford, 1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1826, 
1827. 

Reuben Greeley, 1829. 

Joseph Greeley, 1837. 

David Burns, 1838, 1839. 

Jabez P. F. Cross, 1840, 1841, 1842. 

William Hadley, 1843, 1844. 

The proportionate amount which the town 
has paid of every thousand dollars of the State 
tax, has been as follows: 1789, $7.51 ; 1794, 
$6.30; 1804, $5.31 ; 1808, $5.04; L812, $4.73; 
1816, $4.22; 1820, $4.90; 1836, $4.78; 1840, 
$4.31 ; 1844, $4.33. 

The population of the town at various periods 
has been as follows: 1775,649; 1790, 1064; 
1800, 1267; 1810, 1376; 1820, 1227; 1830, 1282; 
1840, 1144. 

In 1820, Hudson contained two meetinghouses, 
10 school districts, 10 school houses, 1 tavern, 3 
stores, 4 saw mills, 4 grain mills, 2 clothing mills, 
and 1 carding machine. 

The following is the return of the resources and 
products of Hudson in 1840, as certified by the 
Marshal Avho took the census of the town : 135 
horses, 1241 neat cattle, 1403 sheep, 585 swine. 
There were raised 173 bushels of wheat, 377 
bushels of barley, 6453 bushels of oats, 3419 
bushels of rye, 1219 bushels of buckwheat, 8341 
bushels of corn, 18,090 bushels of potatoes, 2398 
pounds of wool, 2698 tons of hay, and 10 pounds 
of maple sugar. The annual value of the pro- 
ducts of the dairy was $6,987. There are three 

*19 



220 HISTORY OF 



Stores with a capital of $2,600. There are also 
two grist mills and three saw mills. 

The number of polls in Hudson in 1839 was 
218 ; in 1840, 236. 

The valuation of the town in 1839 was $386,- 
277 ; in 1840, $380,614. 

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF LITCHFIELD. 

The greater part of the township of Litchfield 
was granted, as we have seen, as early as 1656, 
to William Brenton, and called ^^ Brenton's 
FarmP Its Indian name was Naticook^ and the 
intervale portions of the town, as well as of Mer- 
rimac, Hudson, and Nashua, were inhabited and 
cultivated by a branch of the Penacooks, called 
sometimes, the Naticooks. It was settled about 
1720, but when and by whom is unknown. Of 
the early settlers some were from Billerica, and 
some from Chelmsford, and among them were 
the names of Underwood, Chase, Bixby, Tufts, 
and Parker. It was setoff from Dunstable, and 
incorporated by Massachusetts as a township, 
extending on both sides of Merrimac river, July 5, 
1734. The charter was afterwards confirmed by 
New Hampshire, June 5, 1749, the Merrimac 
being established as its western boundary. It 
contains 8,426 acres. 

In the petition for incorporation, signed by 
Aquila Underwood in behalf of the town, dated 
May, 1734, it is said " that they have supported 
a minister for some time." This was probably 
Rev. Joshua Tafts, who was settled in 1736, and 
dismissed in 1744. January 2, 1765, Rev. Sam- 
uel Cotton, of Newton, was ordained, — dismiss- 
ed in 1784, and died at Claremont in 1819. A 
Presbyterian church was formed 1819, and Rev. 
Nathaniel Kenedy ordained April 12, 1809. He 
was dismissed April, 1812. Rev. Enoch Pills- 



:&S 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



221 



bury was ordained October 25, 1816, and died 
February 15, 1818, aged 34. In 1825, Rev. John 
Shirer was minister. Rev. Mr. Porter was or- 
dained as pastor in 1845. 

In the French war of 1756, Litchfield had 
two soldiers at least in the army, Timothy Bar- 
ron and William Barron. During the Revolu- 
tionary war also, Litchfield furnished its propor- 
tion of soldiers for the army. It contained 57 
males between sixteen and fifty years of age, and 
its annual proportion of soldiers furnished was 
seven. 

December 4, 1784, died Hon. Wiseman Clag- 
gett. He was born at Bristol, England, in 1721, 
and his father was a wealthy barrister at law. — 
He was educated at the Inns of Court and ad- 
mitted a barrister of the King's Bench. In 1748, 
he went to Antigua, in the West Indies, to seek 
his fortune, where he remained about ten years. 
In 1758, he emigrated to New England, and es- 
tablished himself at Portsmouth, N. H. In 1775, 
he was appointed Attorney General of the Prov- 
ince by the royal commission, which he held 
until 1769, having been superseded by Samuel 
Livermore, on account of his attachment to the 
cause of the people. In 1772, he purchased a 
farm at Litchfield, and removed there with his 
family. 

On the adoption of the Constitution of January 
5, 1776, Mr. Claggett was appointed solicitor gen- 
eral of the State, an ofiice which he held until 
his death. He was chosen a member of the 
Council for 1776, and appointed soon after a 
member of the Committee of Safety. He often 
represented Litchfield in the General Court, and 
was once chosen for Merrimac and Bedford, the 
law not requiring the representative to be an in- 
habitant of the town for which he is elected. — 



m 



222 HISTORY OF 



He was a classical scholar, a good lawyer, a wit 
and a poet. A full and most interesting biogra- 
phy, drawn up by Hon. Charles H. Atherton, is 
published in the third volume of the Collections 
of the New Hampshire Historical Society. 

Dr. Jonathan Parker was also a resident of 
Litchfield. He graduated at Harvard College in 
1762, and was a physician of considerable emi- 
nence. 

Hon. James Underwood was for several years, 
about '1793, a Judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas for this County. 

The following is a list of the representatives to 
the General Court from Litchfield, from 1775 to 
1780, and since 1793: 

Wiseman Claggett . and Lt. Samuel Chase, 
April, 1775. 

Capt. John Parker, May, 1775. 

Wiseman Claggett, December, 1775 and 1776. 

James Underwood, for Litchfield and Hudson. 
1775. 

(See Hudson for 1779.) 

Samuel Chase, for Litchfield and Hudson, 
1780. 

John Webster, 1793. 

Robert Parker, 1794, 1806. 

Jsaac Huse, 1795, 1807. 

Clifton Claggett, 1800, 1802. 

Samuel Chase, jr., 1804. 

S. P. Kidder, 1805. 

Simeon Kendall, 1808, 1810. 

Joseph Moor, 1809. 

Samuel Moor, 1811, 1813, 1815. 

Thomas Bixby, 1812, 1814. 

Joseph Chase, jr., 1816, 1817, 1818, 1824, 1825. 

Simon McQuesten, 1819, 1820. 

Jonathan Abbot, 1821, 1822, 1823. 

Moses Chase, 1826, 1827, 1832, 1633. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



223 



Joseph Richardson, 1828, 1829, 1830, 1831. 

Samuel Corning, jr., 1835, 1836. 

Abel G. Qui^^, 1837, 1838. 

Joshua Marsh, 1839, 1840. 

Parker Bixby, 1841, 1842. 

Moses Chase, 1843. 

Isaac McQuesten, 1844, 1845. 

The proportional amount paid by Litchfield, 
at various periods, in every thousand dollars of 
the State tax, has been as follows : 1789, $3.02 ; 
1794, $2.43; 1804, $2.04; 1808, $2.14; 1812, 
$1.97; 1816, $1.86; 1820,$1.90; ]836,$2.26; 
1840; $2.27; 1844, $2.28. 

The populaton of the town at various periods 
has been as follows : 1775, 284 ; 1790, 357 ; — 
1800, 372 ; 1810, 382 ; 1820, 465 ; 1830, 505 ; — 
1840, 481. 

In 1820, Litchfield contained 1 meeting house, 
3 school houses, 1 tavern, 4 saw mills, and 2 
grain mills. 

By the census of 1S40, its resources and prod- 
ucts were as follows : 50 horses, 423 neat cattle, 
779 sheep, 265 swine, 14 bushels of wheat, 18 
bushels of barley, 5349 bushels of oats, 1342 
bushels of rye, 669 bushels of buck-wheat, 4072 
bushels of corn, 7315 bushels of potatoes, 1236 
pounds of wool, 664 tons of hay. The value 
of the products of the dairy was $1410.00. — 
There were 2 stores with a capital invested of 
$15,000.00. 

The number of polls in Litchfield was in 1839, 
114 ; in 1840, 103. 

The valuation of the town in 1839, was $175,- 
615 ; in 1840, $178,920. 

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF MERRIMAC. 

All that part of Merrimac which lies south of 
the Souhegan river, was included in the Dunsta- 



ble 



grant. 



Its Indian name was Naticook. In _[ 



^ - • " ' ^ '"-- - ^ 

224 HISTORY OF 

July, 1729, the lands lying north of the Souhe- 
gan, three miles in width, were granted to Capt. 
Joseph Blanchard and others. In 1733, all these 
grants lying north of Penichuck Brook, and in- 
cluding a part of Narragansett No. 5, or Amherst, 
(granted to the soldiers of Philip's war) were in- 
I corporated into a township, at first called Souhe- 
I gan East; then Rumford, and afterwards Merri- 
j mac. April 2, 1746, it was chartered anew- by 
{ the Legislature of New Hampshire, and contains 
! 19,361 acres. 

! Merrimac was settled about 1722, and among 
j its earliest inhabitants were the names of Usher, 
j Hassell, and Chamberlain. A daughter of Has- 
sell is said have been the first person born in the 
I town. About 1670, John Cromwell built a tra- 
I dmg house at Cromwell's Falls, but was soon 
driven away by the Indians. His house was 
standing in 1679. The account of Cromwell 
with the Indian history of the town, is incorpo- 
rated with that of Dunstable. 

September 5, 1772, a Congregational Church 
was formed, and October 14, 1772, Rev. Jacob 
Burnap, D. D., from Reading, Mass., who grad- 
uated at Harvard College in 1770, was ordained. 
He died December 27, 1821, having admitted to 
the church 194 members. He was eminenily 
distinguished for his superior knowledge of the 
original languages, in which the scriptures were 
written, and was much esteemed for his piety, 
integrity, patience, and all the social virtues. — 
His son, Rev. George W. Burnap, is now a dis- 
tinguished clergyman in Baltimore, Md. Since 
the death of Dr. Burnap, there have been various 
ministers. At present Rev. Mr. Allen is their 
pastor. 

At the mouth of the Souhegan is a valuable 
water privilege, upon which a factory was erected 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 225 

many years ago, by Isaac Riddle and Sons. It 
was consumed by fire June 10, 1818, with a loss 
of $6,000. Another factory, called " the Souhe- 
gan Cotton, Woollen, and Nail Factory," was 
afterwards erected, and shared the same fate. — 
There are other privileges upon the river, and it 
is a matter of regret that they should remain so 
long unimproved. 

" This town claims the first discovery in this 
region of the art of making what are called 
' Leghorn Bonnets,' and other grass work. They 
were first made by the Misses Burnap, before 
1820, who are deserving of much credit for their 
skill and enterprise in this species of manufacture. 
Some of their bonnets have been sold in Boston 
as high as $50.00. 

Hon. Matthew Thornton, one of the signers 
of the Declaration of Independence, resided in 
this town for many years previous to his death. 
He was a native of Ireland, but emigrated to this 
country at an early age. He first settled in the 
eastern part of the State, from which he removed 
to Londonderry, and afterwards to Merrimac in 
1780. Before the Revolution he was eminent as 
a physician. He was also a Colonel in the mili- 
tia, and in 1775 was President of the Convention 
which met at Exeter, and assumed the Govern- 
ment of the Colony in the name of the People. 
He was chosen a delegate to the Congress which 
met at Philadelphia in 1776, and as such aflixed 
his name to the Declaration of Independence. 

He held the ofiice of Chief Justice of the Court 
of Common Pleas for the County, and afterwards 
was a Judge of the Supreme Court of the State 
until 1782. Subsequently he was a member of 
the House of Representatives, and also of the 
Senate, and in 1775 was a member of the Coun- 



226 HISTORY OF 



'-^ 



cil. He died while on a visit to Newburyport, 
Mass., June 24, 1803, aged 88. 

Edward Goldstone Lutwyche, Esq., an English 
gentleman of education and property, resided in 
Merrimac before 1776, at Thornton's, then called 
Lutwyche's Ferry. He was Colonel of the regi- 
ment in 1775, but on the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence he joined the English, left the country, 
to which he never returned, and at the close of 
the war his estate was confiscated by the State. 

Hon. James B. Thornton, a grandson of Hon. 
Matthew Thornton, died at Callao, Peru, Janua- 
ry 25, 1838. At the time of his death he was 
Charge des Affaires of the United States, within 
that Province. For several years he represented 
Merrimac in the Legislature, and was Speaker 
of the House in 1829. In 1830, he was appoint- 
ed Second Comptroller of the Treasury in the 
United States. In this situation he remained at 
Washington until 1836, when he was sent abroad 
to Lima. He died, greatly lamented, at the early 
age of 38. 

The following information relative to the his- 
tory of the church in Merrimac was furnished 
by Rev. Mr. Allen : " The first church in Mer- 
rimac was gathered September 5, 1771, and at 
that time consisted of ten male and three female 
members. On the 9th of January following, 
they voted to call Mr. Jacob Burnap, a native 
of Reading, Mass., and a graduate of Harvard 
College, to be their pastor. He accepted the call, 
and was ordained October 14, of the same year. 
He contuiued in this relation to them more than 
forty-nine years, when he was removed by death 
in December, 1821. Dr. Burnap was a man of 
sound mind and mature scholarship. He won 
the confidence and affection of his people by his 
amiable and pacific character. The whole town 



A^ 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, ScC. 227 

v/as united in one religious society up to the time 
of his death. 

The old meeting house, the first and only one 
ever built by the town, still remains a relic of 
olden time. It was erected in 1756, and is un- 
occupied except as a town house for secular pur- 
poses. The religious society which formerly 
worshipped in it. built a neat and commodious 
house of worship in 183?', which is located on 
the river road, a mile and a half to the northeast 
of the old house. The corporate name of this 
society is ' The Merrimac Religious Society.' 
Their first pastor, after the death of Dr. Burnap, 
was Rev. Stephen Morse, a graduate of Dart- 
mouth College, in 1820, and a native of Brad- 
ford, Mass." Rev. Stephen T. Allen, the present 
pastor, succeeded Mr. Morse, and was installed 
May 22, 1839. 

There is one other religious society in Merri- 
mac, which was formed October 21, 1829. It 
is composed of persons residing in Merrimac, 
Amherst, Hollis, Nashville and Milford. The 
name of their church is the '' Union Evangelical 
Church in Merrimac." Their house of worship 
was built in the summer of 1829. It is situated 
on the road from Nashville to Amherst, within 
the limits of Merrimac, about 20 rods from Am- 
herst line, and not much farther from the line of 
Hollis. Their pastor is Rev. John W. Shepard. 

James U Parker is the only lawyer in Merri- 
mac. 

The physicians are Harrison Eaton, M. D., 
and William Y. Ma goon. 

The Representatives to the G<3neral Court from 
Merrimac, from 1775 to 1783, and since 1793, 
have been as follows : 

Capt. John Chamberlain, April, 1775. 

Jacob McGaw, May, 1775. 

20 



.m 



\ 228 HISTORY OF 



Wiseman Claggett, (of Litchfield) 1777, 1780. 

Capt. Samuel Patten, (of Bedford,) for Merri- 
mac and Bedford, 1778, 1781. 

John Orr, (of Bedford,) for Merrimac and Bed- 
ford, 1770. 

Jacob McGaw, 1782. 

Tmiothv Taylor, 1793, 1794. 

James Thornton, 1796, 1806, 1808, 1809, ISIO, 
1812. 

Simeon Cummings, 1797. 

Samuel Foster, 1800, ISOl, 1802, 1803, 1804, 
1805. 

Samuel McConihe, 3d., 1807. 

Daniel Ingalls, 1811, 1815, 1816. 

Henry Fields, 1813, 1814. 

Aaron Gage, jr., 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820, 1821, 
1822, 1823, 1824. 

Henry T. Ingalls, 1825, 1826. 

James B. Thornton, 1827, 1828, 1829, 1830. 

Joseph Litchfield, 1831, 1832. 

Samuel McConihe, 1833, 1834. 

Samuel Barron, jr., 1835, 1836. 

Oliver Spalding, jr., 1837, 1838. 

Francis Odell, 1839, 1840. 

Robert McGaw, 1841. 

Leonard Walker. 1842, 1843. 

James U. Parker, 1844, 1845. 

The proportion of every thousand dollars of 
the State tax paid by the town of Merrimac at 
various periods has been as follows : 1789, $5.62 ; 
1794, $5.24; 1804, $4.74 ; 1808, $4.20; 1812, 
$3.83; 1816, $4.20; 1820, $4.33 ; 1836, $4.29; 
1840, $4.30 ; 1844, $4.79. 

The population of the town at various periods 
has been as follows: 1775,606; 1790,819; 1800, 
926; 1810, 1048; 1820, 1162; 1830, 1191; 1840, 
1113. 

In 1820, Merrimac contained 1 meeting house. 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 



229 



9 school districts and school houses, 5 taverns, 5 
stores, 8 saw mills, 5 grain mills, 2 clothing mills, 
2 carding machines, 2 tanneries. 

The resources and products of the town as re- 
turned by the census of 1840, were as follows : 
174 horses, 908 neat cattle, 844 sheep, 551 swine, 
213 bushels of wheat, 147 bushels of barley, 
7150 bushels of oats, 4772 bushels of rye, 908 
bushels of buckwheat, 6463 bushels of corn, 14,- 
969 bushels of potatoes, 1532 pounds of wool, 
1480 tons of hay. The estimated value of the 
products of the dairy was $5,784. There were 
4 retail stores, with a capital invested of $12,400. 
There were six grist mills, and 6 saw mills. 

The number of polls in 1839 was 255 ; in 1840, 
241. The valuation of the town in 1839 was 
$432,072 ; in 1840, $430,574, 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF HOLLIS. 

The township of Hollis was entirely included 
within the Dunstable grant, and continued to 
form a part of Dunstable until December 28, 
1739, when it was set off as the " West Parish 
of Dunstable," and soon after was incorporated 
into a separate township by the name of Hollis. 
Its Indian name was Nisitisset. It was incorpo- 



rated by the 
April 3, 1746. 
The earliest 
1730, by Capt. 



Legislature 



of New Hampshire, 



settlement in Hollis was made in 
Peter Powers, who was born in 
Littleton, Mass., in 1707. In 1728, he married 
Anna Rogers, of Chelmsford, who was born in 
1708. He had been a soldier in 1725, under 
Capt. Lovewell, and on his return settled at 
Dunstable. Here he brought his wife upon his 
marriage, and resided about two years. In the 
fall of 1730, he crossed the Nashua,— built him 



mc: 



-11 



230 HISTORY OF 



cabin in the forest, and in January, 1731, with 
his wife and two small cliildren, took up his 
abode in Hollis. The remains of his dwelling 
were visible in 1830, " a little sonthwest of the 
dwelling house of Thomas Cnmmings." (I.) 

" In the summer of 1732, Eleazer Flagg came 
into the town, and located himself in the south- 
west part of it, on or near the place now (1S30) 
owned or improved by his descendant, Capt. 
Reuben Flaa:^. The house of Mr. Fla??, was 
subsequently improved as a guard house, and 
was fortified against an attack of the Indians. 
The same season, March 9, 1732, Anna Powers, 
daughter of Peter Powers, was born, and was 
the first English child born in Hollis. She mar- 
ried Benjamin Hopkins, Esq., of Milford, and 
died at an advanced age. Thomas Dinsmore, 
who was the third family in the settlement, came 
in and located himself on the place now (1830) 
owned or occupied by Amos Eastman, Esq., and 
in 1736, the little Colony was augmented to the 
number of nine families.^' 

In 1741, a meeting house was erected upon the 
spot now occupied by the Congregational meet- 
ing, which for a century has been improved for 
sacred purposes. Rev. Daniel Emerson, who 
was born at Reading, Mass., May 20, 1716, and 
graduated at Harvard College 1739, was ordained 
as pastor 20th. April, 1743. At this time there 
were thiriy families in town. 

Hollis never sustained any injury from the In- 
dians, although at one time considerable alarm 
was excited, since May 20, 1746, they " Voted to 
Petition the General Court of Massachusetts Bay 



(I.) The Centennial Anniversary was celebrated 15th September, 
1830, and an address delivered by a descendant, Rev. Grant Powers. 
I am indebted to his address for many of the above facts. 



J 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 231 



% 



for some soldiers for a Guard for us, being in 
great danger of the enemy." 

In the old French war of 1775, Capt. Peter 
Powers, of Hollis, commanded a company which 
was made up from Hollis, Nashua and the vicin- 
ity. The following is the muster roll : Captain, 
Peter Powers; Lieutenant, Benjamin Abbot; 
Ensign, William Cummings; Ebenezer Lyon, 
David Hubbard, Samuel Cummings, Sergeants; 
James Colburn, Clerk ; Jonathan Powers, Enoch 
Noyes, Stephen Hoseltine, James Brown, Corpo- 
rals ; Samuel Brown, Drummer; James Hill, 
Peter Wheeler, John Martin, John Martin, Jr., 
James Wheeler, Daniel Wheeler, John Goodhue, 
Ebenezer Ball, Nathaniel Blanchard, Timothy 
Farley, Samuel Barrett, Josiah French, Moses 
Emerson, John Willoby, Christopher Lovejoy, 
Isaac Sterns, Jacob Abbot, Timothy Richardson, 
Levi Powers, Philip OUereck, Richard Adams, 
Whitcomb PoAvers, Samuel Sampson, Micah Per- 
kins, Luther Richardson, Thomas Williams, Da- 
vid Hartshorn, John Everden, Jabez Davis, Sam- 
uel Perham, Jonathan Fowler, John Secomb, 
Samuel Fisk, Nathaniel Townsend, Stephen 
Powers, George Leslie, Benjamin Hildreth, Eph- 
raim Kellogg, David Turner, Robert Gordon, 
John Flagg, Samuel Skinner. Rev. Daniel Em- 
erson, was Chaplain of the regiment. Dr. John 
Hall, Surgeon, and Samuel Hobart, all of Hollis, 
Adjutant. 

In 1760, Hollis contained sixty taxable persons. 
In 1767, it had 81 unmarried males from sixteen 
to sixty years of age, and 117 married males 
from sixteen to sixty. August 25, 1775, it had 
306 males under sixteen years of age ; 174 males 
from sixteen to fifty ; 71 over fifty. There were 
60 men in the army, of whom 10 died. The 
whole number of males capable of bearing arms 
was 223. 

~ *20 



232 HISTORY OF 

A company of 70 men from Hollis, was in the 
battle of Bunker Hill, under Capt. Reuben Dov/. 
John Cross was Lieutenant, and John Cummings, 
Ensign. This company, as well as the other 
soldiers from this vicinity, were under the com- 
mand of Col. Stark and Col. Prescott, and were 
in the thickest of the fight. Seven were killed, 
viz : Nathan Blood, Jacob Boynton, Isaac Ho- 
bart, Phineas Nevers, Peter Poor, Thomas Whee- 
ler, and Ebenezer Youngman. Six more were 
wounded, among whom was Capt. Dow. "Ca- 
leb Eastman lost his life the second day after by 
the accidental discharge of a gun while on par- 
ade." "In December, 1775, Capt. Noah Wor- 
cester marched at the head of a company, about 
thirty oi whom were Hollis men." " July, 1776, 
Capt. Daniel Emerson marched at the head of a 
company to Ticonderoga; about /i<:/// of his com- 
pany v\^ere Holiis men. In August, 1776, Capt. 
William Reed (of Litchfield) marched with a 
company to New York, about 20 of whom be- 
longed to this town. In 1777, Capt. John Goss 
marched to Bennington with a company, of which 
about thii^iy were from Hollis." This was the 
quota of this town during the war. The town 
had in the army at various times during the war 
about two hundred and fifty men, of whom thirty 
died in the service. 

Of the Royalist refugees three resided in Hol- 
lis, viz: Samuel Cummings, Esq., Benjamin 
Whiting, Esq., and Thomas Cummings. They 
were included in the Outlawry Act, and the es- 
tates of the two first were confiscated. 

November 27, 1793, Rev. Eli Smith, (born at 
Belcherton, Mass., 1759; graduated Brown Uni- 
versity, 1792,) was ordained as a colleague of 
Rev. Mr. Emerson. Mr. Emerson died 30th 
September, ISOl, aged 85. His wife, Hannah, 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 233 

daughter of Rev. Joseph Emerson, of Maiden, 
died 2Lth. February, 1812, aged 90. Rev. David 
Perry succeeded Rev. Mr. Smith in the ministry 
of Hollis. There are now (1846) two religious 
societies in town, an Orthodox Congregationalist, 
and a Baptist society. Rev. James Aikin is 
settled over the former, and Rev. Phineas Rich- 
ardson over the latter. The meeting house now 
occupied by the Congregational societ^^, was 
erected in 1804, and the Baptist house in 1837. 

The physicians now residing in Hollis, are 
Wm. Hale, Oliver Scripture, Noah Hardy, John 
L. Colby, and O. M. Cooper. 

Benjamin M. Farley is the only lawyer in 
town. 

A large number of natives of this town have 
enjoyed a collegiate education. Up to 1S23 they 
were as follows : 

Ai Harvard College. — Rev. Peter Powers, 1754; 
Rev. Josiah Goodhue, 1755 ; Rev. Henry Cum- 
mings, D. D., 1760; Joseph Emerson, 1774; 
Dr. Samuel Emerson, 1785 ; Josiah Burge, 
1787; Rev. Daniel Emerson, 1794; Rev. Jo- 
seph Emerson, 1798 ; Benjamin M. Farley, 
1804 ; Dr. Benjamin Burge, 1805 ; John Proc- 
tor, 1813; Rev. William P. Kendrick, 1815; 
George F.Farley, 1816; Taylor G.Worces- 
ter, 1823. 

Dari7no2(,th College. — Rev. Samuel W^orcester, 
D. D., 1795; Rev. Abel Farley, 1798; Rev. 
Mighill Blood, 1800 ; Rev. David Jewett, 1801 ; 
Rev. Caleb J. Tenney, 1801 ; Jonathan East- 
man, 1803 ; Dr. Noah Hardv, 1803; Rev. Ste- 
phen Farley, 1804; Rev. Eli Smith, 1809; 
Rev. Grant Powers, 1810; Rev. Leonard Jew- 
ett, 1810 ; Dr. Noah Hardy, 1812 ; Luke East- 
man, 1812. 



!§- 



234 HISTORY OP 



Yale College. — Joseph E. Worcester, 1811; Rev. 
Ralph Emerson, 1811. 

Brown University. — Rev. Daniel Kendrick, 1809; 
Luther Smith. 

Middlebiiry College. — William Tenney, 1808 ;— 
Rev. Fifield Holt, and Solomon Hardy. 

Tennessee College. — Eli Sawtell. 

Since 1823, a large number have been edu- 
cated at various Colleges, among whom are Jon- 
athan Sanderson, Benjamin F. Emerson, Joseph 
Emerson, Henry Sanderson. John G. Worcester, 
Benjamin F. Farley. In 1830, Hollis had raised 
and educated 30 ministers, 8 lawyers, and 11 
physicians. 

Rev. Noah Worcester, D. D., was also a native 
of Hollis. 

The number of deaths for 25 years, ending 
1818, was 567. One in nine of this number, 
lived to the age of SO years or upwards. Mrs. 
Elizabeth French, died in 1749, aged 103. Mrs. 
Ulrich, a native of Ireland, died here in 1789, 
at the age of 104, and v/as active until she was 
more than a hundred years old. She lived for 
many years in Nashua, where the family is call- 
ed Ollerick upon the records of the town. Capt. 
Caleb Farley died in 1830, aged 100. In 1830, 
there were 70 persons in town over 70 years of 
age, of whom 27 were over 80; and one, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Hale, was 98 ! 

The Representatives of Hollis in the General 
Court, from 1775 to 1782, and since 1793, have 
been as follows : 

Samuel Hobart, April, 1775. 

Capt. John Hale, May, 1775. 

Stephen Ames, December. 1775, 1776, 1777, 
1778. 

Reuben Dow, 1779. 



^ 



NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 235 

John Hale, 1780. 

Capt. Daniel Emerson, 1781. 

Jeremiah Ames, 1793, 1794, 1796, 1798, 1800. 

Daniel Emerson, ISOl, 1802, 1803, 1809, 1810, 
1811. 

Benjamin Poole, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808. 

Nathan Thayer, 1812, 1819, 1820, 1821. 

Daniel Bailey, 1813. 

Benjamin M. Farley, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, 
1818, 1824, 1S25, 1826, 1827, 1828, 1829. 

Ralph W. Jewett, 1822, 1823. 

Jonathan T. Wright, 1830, 1831. 

Ralph E. Tenney, 1832, 1833, 1834. 

Moses Proctor, 1835, 1836, 1837. 

Joseph E. Smith, 1838, 1839. 

Leonard Farley, 1840, 1841, 1842. 

William Merrill, 1843, 1844. 

Ralph E. Tenney, 1845. 

The proportion of every thousand dollars of 
the State tax paid by the town of Hollis, at va- 
rious periods, has been as follows : 1794, $7.77 ; 
1804, $6.57: 1808, $5.62; 1812, $5.32; 1816, 
$5.13; 1820, $5.52; 1836, $5.50; 1840, $5.79; 
1844, $5.69. 

The population of the town at various periods, 
has been as follows : 1775, 1255 ; 1790, 1441 ; 
1800, 1557; 1810, 1529; 1820, 1543; 1830, 
1501 ; 1840, 1333. 

In 1820, Hollis contained 1 meeting house, 12 
school houses, 2 taverns, 4 stores, 6 saw mills, 5 
grain mills, 1 clothing mill, 1 carding machine, 
1 tannery. 

The resources and products of Hollis, in 1840, 
as returned by the United States census, were as 
follows : 190 horses, 1530 neat cattle, 1 055 sheep, 
358 swine, 1815 bushels of wheat, 447 bushels 
of barley, 3988 bushels of oats, 3983 bushels of 
rye, 578 bushels of buckwheat, 7648 bushels of 



-M 



236 HISTORY OF 



corn, 17.935 bushels of potatoes, 2625 pounds 
of wool, 1806 tons of hay. The vahie of the 
products of the dairy was $3,575. There were 
2 stores with a capital of $S,000 invested; 3 
grain mills, and 3 saw mills. 



APPENDIX NO. i. 



GENEALOGY OF THE EARLY SETTLERS OF 
DUNSTABLE. 

There is a natural desire in every man to know some- 
thing of his ancestry, and to the descendants of the early 
settlers of Dunstable it must be interesting to trace back 
their families to their origin. The materials for this pur- 
pose exist, to a great extent, in the ancient records of Mar- 
riages, Births and Deaths among the town papers, a large 
part of which were collected, compared, and arranged by 
John Farmer, Esq. His deserved reputation as an anti- 
quarian is a guarantee of its accuracy. The list is not gen- 
erally brought down to a period later than 1750 ; to have 
extended it would have required too much time and space. 

ACRES, JOHN.— He was of Boston in 1656; settled in 
Dunstable before 1680; and had children, Mai-y, born 
26th. May, 1682, and Joanna,hoi'n 10th. Jan., 1684. 

ADAMS, THOMAS.— Born 1675: died 18th. Feb., 1746, 
aged 71. His wife, Judy, born 1680: died 15tli. April, 
1754, aged 74. Had children, Phinehas, born 1724 : died 
4th. Dec, 1747, aged 23. 

BLANCHARD, DEA. JOHN.— One of the founders of the 
church in 1685; freeman 1649; son of Thomas Blanch- 
ard, who came to New England in the ship Jonathan, 
in 1639. Settled in Charlestown, and died there 21st. 
May, 1654. He left children, Joseph and Thomas. 



m 



® 



238 APPENDIX. 



BLANCH ARD, CAPT. JOSEPH.— Son of preceding; 
married Abiah Hassell, daughter of Joseph Hassell, 
Sen., 25th. May, 1696. She died 8ih. Dec, 1746, aged 
70. He died in 1727. His children were, 1. EUzaheth, 
born 15th. April, 1697 : married Jona. Cummings ; 2. 
Esther, born 24th. July, 1699 ; 3. Hannah, born 28th. 
Oct., 1701; 4. Joseph, born 11th. Feb., 1704; 5. Ra- 
chel, born 23rd. March, 1705 : died in infancy ; 6. Su- 
sanna, born 29th. March, 1707; 7. Jane, born 19th. 
March, 1709 : married Rev. Josiah Swan ; 8. Rachel, 
born 23rd. March, 1712; 9. Eleazer, born 1st. Dec, 
1715 : died 29th. April 1717. 

BLANCHARD, COL. JOSEPH.— Son of the preceding ; 
born 11th. Feb., 1704: married Rebecca Hubbard; died 
7th. April, 1758: she died 17th. Ai)ril, 1774. His chil- 
dren were, L Sarah, bom 1706: died 30th. Nov., 1726 ; 
2. Joseph, born 28th. Apiil, 1729 ; 3 and 4. Eleazer 
and Susanna, born 15th. Nov.^ 1730 : Eleazer died 19th. 
March, 1753, aged 22; 5. Rebecca, born 20th. July, 
1732 ; 6, Sarah, born 7th. Oct., 1734 : died in infancy; 
7. Catherine, born 11th. Nov., 1736 ; 8. Jonathan, born 
18th. Sept., 1738: died 18th. July, 1788 ; 9. Sarah,horn 
2d. Aug., 1740 ; 10. /amea, born 20th. Sept., 1742 : in 
army; 11. Augustus, born 29th. July, 1746: died at 
Milford, 1809; 12. Caleb, horn 15th. Aug., J 549 ; 13- 
Hannah,horn 2]st. Oct., 1751 : married Dr. Ebenezer 
Starr, of D., 21st. April, 1776: died 22d. Marc!;, 1794, 
aged 42. 

BLANCHARD, HON. JONATHAN.— Son of the preced- 
ing ; born 18th. Sept., 1738 : married Rebecca Farwell, 
of this town, who died 20th. Aug., 1811, aged 72. He 
died 10th. July, 1788, aged 50. His children were, 1. 
Rebecca, born 4th. May, 1766 : married Dr. Augustus 



APPENDIX. 239 



Starr: died 19th. Oct., 1810, aged 45; 2. Grace, who 
married Frederick French, Esq.; 3. Sophia: married 
Oliver Farwell, SiuA si'xW living ; 4. Charles, hon\ 14tli. 
March, 1776: died at Batavia,New York, 16th. March, 
1811; 5. Abigail: married Dr. Joseph F. Eastman, of 
Hollis, and still living. Eliza married Thomas French 
Esq.: died 1843. 

BLANCHARD, THOMAS— Son of Dea. John; born 

about 1670 : married Tabitha , who died 29th. 

Nov., 1696: married Ruth .^(/aj?is, of Chelmsford, 4th. 
Oct., 1698 : died 9th. March, 1727. His children were, 
1, Migail, born 5th. May, 1694 ; 2. John, born 20th. May, 
1696; 3. TAoma5, born 12th. Aug., 1799: taken captive 
by the Indians in September, 1724; 4. William, horu 
1701; 5. Ruth, born 1st. April, 1703. 

BLANCHARD, THOMAS, Jr., and Elizabeth, his wife ; — 
son of the jn-eceding. Had a son Thomas, 3d., born 
20th. Oct., 1724. 

BLANCHARD, JOHN.-Son of Thomas, Sen., born 20th. 
May, 1696: wife's name, J^/an/. Had a son JVilliam. 

BLANCHARD, NATHANIEL, and Lijdiu, his wife; — 
killed by the Indians, 3(1. July, 1706. Had a son, JYa- 
ihaniel, 2d,, born 12th. Sept., 1705. 

BLANCHARD, WILLIAM.— Son of Thomas, born 1701 : 
married Deliverance, daughter of Samuel Searles. Had 
children, Olive, born 4th. November, 1733; JVatJianiel 
born 25th. Dec, 1735. 

BEALE, WILLIAM.— Had children, miliam, born 12th. 
March, 1685, and Elizabeth born 16th. Nov., 1686. 

BEALE, SAMUEL.— Had children, Samuel, born 3d. 
July, 1685, and Ebcnezer, born 30lh. Jan., 1688. 

"~21 



240 APPENDIX. 



BANCROFT, LIEUT. TIMOTHY.— Came from 



born in 1709: died 21st. Nov., 1772, aged 63. He had 
ciiildren, Col. Ehenczer, born 1737 : an officer in the 
French and Revolutionary wars, and in the battle of 
Bunker Hill : died 22d. Sept., 1827, aged 90; Dea, Jon- 
athan, born 1750: died II th. July, 1815, aged 65. 

COLBURN, THOMAS.— Probably from Chelmsford, and 
a son of Edivard Colburn ; born about 1675: died 2d. 
Nov., 1770, aged 96 ; his wife died 7th. Sept., 1739, aged 
59. His children were, 1. Elizabeth, born 29th. Sept., 
1700; 2. Thomas, horn 28th. April, 1702: died 18th. 
April, 1724; 3. Hannah, born 21st. Jan., 1704: died 
8th. March, 1718 ; 4. Edward, born 14th. Dec, 1705 : 
died 18th. April, 1724; 5. a daughter, born 2Sth. Nov., 
1707; 6. a so?i, born April, 1709; 7. Sarah; 8. Bridget, 
born 20th. Aug., 1717; 9. Louisa, horn 1718 ; 10. Ba- 
chel, born 18th. Sept., 1721. 

COLBURN, THOMAS, and Elizabeth, hia wife. Had a 

son Isaac, born 28th. Doc, 1811. 

\ it ' 

CUMMINGS, JOHN, SEN.— His wife was SaralM^^^ 
who died 7th. Dec, 1700 ; he died 1st. Dec, 1700.— 
His children were, John, JVathdniel, Sarah, Thomas, 
Abraham, Isaac, and Ebenezer. The two latter were 
cither killed by the Indians, or were drowned, as they 
"died Nov. 2, 1688," and were not buried for many 
days after. 

CUMMINGS, JOHN, JR.— Son of preceding; married 

Elizabeth , 13th. Sei)t., 1680. She was killed 

by the Indians, 3d. July, 1706. His children were, 1. 
John, born 7th. July, 1682; 2. Samuel, born 6th. Oct., 
1684 ; 3. Elizabeth, born 5th. Jan., 1687 ; 4. Anna, born 
14th. Sei)t., 1698; 5. Lydia, born 24th. March, 1701: 
died April, 1701 ; 6. jrHliam, born 24th. April, 1702. , 



APPENDIX. 241 

/fcuMMINGS, NATHANIEL.— Son of John, Sen. His 
children were, 1. John, born 14t!i. Jan., 1698 ; 2. JVa- 
thaniel, born 8tb. Sept., 1G99; 3. Eliezer, born 19th. 
Oct., 1701 ; 4. Joseph, born 26th. May, 1704. 

CUMMINGS, ABRAHAM.— Son of John, Sen. Had a son 
Josiah, born 12th. July, 1698. 

CUMMINGS, THOMAS.- Son of John, Sen.; born in 
1659: married Priscilla Warner, sister of Samuel W., 
of D., 19th. Dec, 1688: died 20th. Jan., 1723. His 
children were, 1. Priscilla, born 1st. Oct., 1689; 2. 
Mai-y, born 25th. Ajn-il, 1692 ; 3. Anna, born 6tl). Feb., 
1699 ; 4. Thomas, born 10th. April, 1701 ; 5. Jonathan, 
born 3d. July, 1703: married Elizabeth, daughter of 
Capt. Joseph Blanchard ; G. jEp/imim, born 10th. March, 
1706: 7. Samuel, born 12th. April, 1708. 

CUMMINGS, DEA. WILLIAM.— Son of John, Jr.; born 
24th. April, 1702 : married Sarah, daughter of William 
Harwood: died 9th. Sept., 1758. His children were, 
1. Sarah, born 10th. Nov., 1728 ; 2. Ebenezer, born 29th. 
Jan., 1730; 3. John Harwood, bovn 24th. April, 1733; 
4. Dorcas, born ISth. Dec, 1737. 

CUMMINGS, JONATHAN.— Son oi' Thomas; born 3d. 
July, 1703: married Elizabeth, dsiughter of Capt. Joseph 
Blanchard, and had a son, Benjamin Blanchard, born 
15th. Aug., 1732. 

CUMMINGS, SAMUEL, (and Prudence, his wife,) son of 
Thomas ; born 12th. April, 1708. Had daughters Sybil, 
born 1st, Nov., 1736; Prudence, born 26th. Nov., 1740. 

CUMMINGS, NATHANIEL, JR.— Son of jyathaniel; — 
I born 8th. Sept., 1699 : married Elizabeth — — '■ — . His 
i children were, 1. JVathaniel, born 7th. July, 1724 ; 2. 
\ Jeremiah, horn 27th. Dec, 1726: 3. OZtver, born 10th. 



242 APPENDIX. 

April, 1728; 4. Elizabeth, born 30th. Dec, 1730; 5. 
Migail, born 12ih. Feb., 1732. 

CUMxMINGS, ELEAZER.-Son of jYathaniel, Sen.; born 

19th. Oct., 1701 : married Rachel . Had a son 

Eleazer, born 15th. Dec, 1730. 

COOK, ANDREW.— His cliildren were Lyd'ia, born 26th. 
July, 1686; and Andrew, Mice, and Elizabeth, born af- 
terwards. 

COFFIN, REV. ENOCH.— From Newbury, Mass. Had 
a daughter, Mehitable, born 5th. Nov., 1719. Settled in 
Concord, N. H. 

DARBYSHIRE, JOHN.— His children were, 1. William, 
born 14th. Aug., 1698; 2. James, born 30th. April, 
1702, 

DANFORTH, JOSEPH.— Died in Tyng^borough, 30lh. 
March, 1795, aged 75. 

FARWELL, HENRY.— From Chelmsford ; a son o? Hcnrj 
Faricell, of Concord. His children were, 1. Hem^ ; 2. 
Oliver, born 1691 : killed by the Indians at Naticook, 
5th. Sept., 1724; 3. Josiah, the only survivor of that 
fight: was a lieutenant under Lovewell, and killed at 
Pigwacket, 8th. May, 1725; 4. Jonathan, born 24th. 
July, 1700; 5. Susanna,horn 19th. Feb., 1703; 6. Isaac, 
born 4th. Dec, 1704; 7. Sarah, born 4th. Dec, 1706. 

FARWELL, HENRY, JR.— Son of the preceding; mar- 
ried Esther Blanchard, daughter of Capt. Joseph Blanch- 
ard. His children were, 1. Eleazer, born 7th. Oct., 
1726; 2. Esther, born 16th. May, 1730; 3. Olive, born 
19th. July, 1732. 

FARWELL, JONATHAN.— Sou of Henry, Sen.; born 
24th. July, 1700: married Susanna . His chil- 
dren were, 1. Susan?ia, born 17th. Jan., 1724; 2. Ra- 



m=^ 



APPENDIX. 



243 



cAeZ, born 19th. Feb,, 1728 ; 3. Jonathan, born 28th. 
Aug., 1729. 

FARWELL, OLIVER.— Son of Henry, Sen.; born 1691 : 
married Mary Cummings, daughter of Thomas Cum- 
mings : killed by the Indians, 5th. Sept., 1724, aged 33. 
His children were, 1. Mary, born 8th, May, !71G; 2, 

Oliver, born 19th. Nov., 1717: married Abigail . 

who died 18th. Aug,, 1789, aged C8 : he died 12th. Oct., 
1808, in this town, aged 91 ; 3. Benjamin, born 14th. 
May, 1720: died 20th. March, 1772; 4. Sarah, born 
8th. May, 1724. 

FARWELL, LT. JOSIAH.— Son of Henry, Sen.; married 
Hannah LoveivelL Had a daughter Hannah, born 27th. 
Jan., 1723. 

FARWELL, ISAAC— Son o^Heyiry, Sen,; born 4th. Dec, 
1704. His children were, 1. Elizabeth; 2. Josiah, born 
19th. Aug., 1728; 3. Relief; 4. Bunker, born 28th. 
Jan., 1732; 5. Abigail; 6. Isaac, born 18th. Feb., 
1736. 

FLETCHER, ROBERT.— Came from Chelmsford, His 
children were, 1. .SarcrA, born 1st. March, 1724 ; 2. Rob- 
crf, born 1727 : died 9th. Sept., 1792, aged 65; 3. Eliza- 
beth; 4. Mai-y. 

FLETCHER, ROBERT.— Son of the preceding ; born 
1727: died 9th. Sept., 1792, aged 65. Had children, 
Robert, born 1st. Aug., 1762; Hannah. 

FRENCH, SAMUEL.— Son of if. William French; born 
at Cambridge, 3d. Dec, 1645 : removed to Billerica, and 
thence to Dunstable; married Sarah, daughter of John 
Cummings, Sen., 2i\h. Dec, 1682. His children were 
1. Sarah, born Feb., 1684 ; 2. Samuel, born 10th. Sept., 
1685, died 4th. Nov. 1727; 3. Joseph, born 10th. March, [ 

*21 " 



244 APPENDIX. 



1687 ; 4. John^ born May, 1691 ; 5. Ebenezer, born 7th. 
April, 1693 : killed by Indians Sth. Sept., 1724 ; 6. Rich- 
ard, born 8th. April, 1695 ; 7. Mice, born gOth. Nov., 
1699 ; 8. Jonathan, born 1st. Feb., 1704 : a deacon : — 
died 17th. Nov., 1757. 

FRENCH, JOSEPH.— Son of preceding; born 10th. 
March, 1687: married iJZ?'zaiei/j, daughter of JoA.n Cum- 
mings, Jr. His children were, 1. Joseph, born 28th. 
July, 1713; 2. Sampson, born 28th. July, 1717; 3. Jo- 
siah, born 24th. Feb., J 723 ; 4. Thomas, born 29th. June, 
1724; 5. Benjamin, born 6th. July, 1726; 6. Samuel, 
born 10th. Aug., 1730. 

FRENCH, SAMUEL.— Perhaps a brother of Hmry French; 
born about 1665. His children were, John, born 6th. 
May, 1691 ; and Ebenezer, born 7th. April, 1693. 

FRENCH, JOHN.- Son of Samuel; born 6th. ?,Iay, 1691. 
His children were, Jo Am, born 1st. March, ] 719; Wil- 
liam, born 18th. Oct., 1721 ; and Hannah, Eleazer and 
Elizabeth, Ebenezer, and Sarah, born from 1723 to 1733. 

FRENCH, EBENEZER.— Son of Sarauel; born 7th. April, 
1693: killed by the Indians at Naticook Brook, 5th. 
Sei>t., 1724. Had a son, Ebenezer, born 27th. Oct., 1723. 

FRENCH, JOSEPH, JR.— Son o{ Joseph; born 28th. July, 
1713: died 21st. April, 1776. His first wife, Bridget 

^, died 29th. Oct., 1735, aged 29: childless; his 

second wife, Elizabeth , died 20th. Jan., 1753, 

aged 44. Had a son, Joseph, born 1st. Nov., 1739 : was 
a Colonel, and died 1770 : married Sybil Richardson, 
who died 3d. March, 1768. 

FRENCH, THEODORE.-Son of Joseph 2d.; born Gth. 
Jan., 1759 married Rhoda Dan/orth, 4th. Oct., 1781.— 
His childien were, 1. Joseph, born 22d. Nov., 1783 ; 2. 



APPENDIX. 245 



Theodore, born 19th. Dec, 1786: married Lydia Allds, 
of D., now of Concord, N. H.; 3. Jacob, born 24th. 
Oct., 1789 : of Stoddard. 

FRENCH, BENJAMIN.-Son of Joseph, Sen.; born 6th. 
July, 1726 : married Molly, daughter of CoL Zaccheus 
Lovewell, 28th. Jan., 1751, who died 17th. Dec, 1774; 
and for a second wife, Mrs'Mary Cummings, 1st. Feb., 
1776. He died 15th. Dec, 1799, aged 74. His children 
were, Benjamin, born 4th. Dec, 1752: died 29th. Oct., 
1776, aged 23; Esther; Aus:ustus ; Betty; Charlotte; 
Frederic, born 26th. Sept., 1766 ; Thomas, born 7th. 
May, 1768; Lucy, married James Cummings, 5th. July, 
1787 : and Bridget. 

FRENCH, FREDERIC— Son of the preceding; born 
26ih. Sept., 1766: married GVace, daughter of iifon. Jon- 
athan Blanchard, 30th. Dec, 1790: died at Amherst, N. 
H. His cliildren were, Benjamin Frederic, born 2d. 
Oct., 1791 ; Charles; Arthur; Rebecca; and Edward. 

FRENCH, THOMAS.— Son of Capt. Benjamin ; born 7th. 
May, 1768 : married Elizabeth Blanchard, 7th. Jan., 1796 ; 
he died 3d. May, 1846, aged 78 : she died 4th. May, 
1843. Their children were, Jonathan Blanchard, born 
16th. Oct., 1796 ; Mai-y ; Elizabeth ; Caroline ; Thomas; 
Benjamin ; and Charles. 

HARWOOD, WILLIAM.—Born in 1665: married Esther 

; he died 17th. Sept., 1740, aged 75: she died 

8th. Oct., 1737, aged 72. His children were, John, 
killed in the Pigvvacket Fight, 8th. May, 1725 ; TJwmas, 
born 9th. Jan., 1702; Mary; Sarah; Abigail; Rachel; 
Dorcas; Viud Lydia. 

HASSELL, JOSEPH, SEN.— Of Cambridge: freeman 
1647: Ills wife was Joanna ; both killed by the 



a 



246 



APPENDIX. 



Indians, Sept., 1791. His children were, 1. Joseph, born 
nt Cambridge, 1645 ; 2. Esther, born at Cambridge, 
1G48 : married Obadiah Perry ; 3. Richard, taken pris- 
oner by the Indians ; 4. Ahiah, married Capt. Joseph 
Blanchard. 

HASSELL, JOSEPH, JR.— Son of the preceding; born 
in 1645. His children were, Joseph; Benjamin ; Han- 
nah; Esther; Dinah; Ahiah; Betsy; Rachel; and Sa- 
rah, born from 1700 to 1721. 

HASSELL, BENJAMIN.— Son of Joseph, Jr.; born 19th. 
Aug., 1701. Had a daughter, Adah, born 27th. April, 
1734. 

HOWARD, SAMUEL.— Born in 1GS4 ; died 7th. Feb., 
1769, aged 85. 

JOHNSON, NOAH.— Probably from Woburn ; born in 
1G98: survivor of Lovewell's Fight ; died at Pembroke, 
13th. Aug., 1798, in the one hundredth year of his age. 
His children were, Elizabeth, born 3d. Oct., 1728 ; JVoah, 
born 27th. May, 1730: and Edward, killed m the old 
French war. 

KENDALL, JOHN.— Probably from Woburn; married 

Deborah , who died 3d. March, 1739, aged 45.— 

His children were, 1. Sarah, born 23d. May, 1727 ; 2. 
Jacob, born 9th. Aug., 1729; 3. Temple, born 10th. 
Aug., 1731. He was the ancestor of Hon. Amos Ken- 
dall, and livpd in that part of the town which is now 
Dunstable, Mass. 

LOVEWELL, JOHN.— Probably from Weymouth ; born 

in England before 1650 : married Hannah : 

died about 1754 — said to have been aged 120. His 
children were, 1. John, a Captain, the hero of Pig- 
wacket, born 14th. Oct., 1691 ; killed by the Indians at 



APPENDIX. 



247 



Pi<5\v?cket, 8th. May, 1725; 2. Hannah: married Capi. 
Josrph Baker^ of Roxbury ; 3. Zaccheus, a Colonel in 
the French war, born 22d. Jul}', 1701 ; 4. Jonathan, 
born 14th. May, 1713: a judge: died about 1792, un- 
married. 

LOVEWELL, CAPT. JOHN.— Son of the preceding; 
born 14th. Oct., 1691 : killed 8th. May, 1725. His wid^ 
ovv, Hannah, died 5th. Jan., 1754. His children were, 
1. John, born 30th. June, 1718: died 2d. July, 1763; — 
left children, John, Jonathan, Rachel, and Mary; ^,2. 
Hannah, born 24th. July, 1721 ; 3. JVeheiniah, born 9th. 
Jan., 1726: married Rachel, daughter of Jonathan Far- 
well, 24th. Nov., 1748 : removed to Corinth, Vt., where 
he died, leaving a numerous family. 

LOVEWELL, COL. ZACCHEUS.— Son of John, Sen.; 

born 22d. July, 1701: married Esther : died 

12th. Aj)ril, 1772, aged 72. His children were, 1. Zac- 
cheus, born 19th. Feb., 1726; 2. Esther, born 10th. 
Nov., 1728; 3. iMC^,born 12th. Jan., 1730; 4. Molly, 
born 26th. May, 1732, who married Capt. Benjamin 
French, and died 17th. Dec, 1774; 5. Bridget, who 
married Augustus Blanchard, and died 25th. Nov., 1836, 
aged 88; and 6. JVoah, born 1741, and died in D., 29th. 
May, 1820, aged 79. 

LOVEWELL, GEN. NOAH.— Son of Col. Zaccheus; born 
1741 ; married Mary Farivell, 17th. Dec, 1767. He 
died 29th. May, 1820; she died 24th. Nov., 1835, aged 93. 
His children were, Betsy, who married Hon. Jesse Boic- 
ers; Mary, who married Luther Taylor, of D.; and Moody 
D., still living. 

LUND, THOMAS.— Born about 1660. His children 
were, 1. Thomas, born 9ih. Sept., 1682; 2. Elizabeth, 



248 APPENDIX. 



i^: 



born 29th. Sept., 1684; 3. mniam, born 25rh. Jan., 
1686. 

LUND, THOMAS, 2d.— Son of the preceding; bom 9th. 
Sept., 1682: killed by the Indians, 5th. Sept., 1724.— 
His children were, 1. Thomas, born 31st. Oct., 1712; 
2. Elizabeth, horn 14ih. May, 1715; 3. William, born 
12th. Oct., 1717; 4. Ephraim, born 3d. Aug., 1720; 
5. Phinehas, born 3d. April, 1723. 

LUND, WILLIAM.— Son of Thomas, Sen.; born 25th .Jan., 

1686: married jRac/ie/ : died in 1768, aged 81. 

His children were, 1. fVilliam, horn 18th. July, 1717; 
2. Rachel; 3. Charity, (a son) born 16th. Feb., 1731 ; 
4. Mail/. 

LUND, THOMAS.— Son of TJwmas, 2d.; born 31st. Oct., 

1712: a Deacon: married Ma?-y ; died 4th. 

Feb., 1790. He had a son, Thomas, born 12th. March, 
1739. 

LUND, EPHRAIM.— Son of Thomas, 2d.; born 3d. Aug., 

1720 : married Rachel . Had a daughter, Rachel, 

born 29th. Aug., 1743. 

PERRY, OBADIAH.— Married Esther, daughter of Jo- 
seph Hassell. His children were, John, born 31st. Jan., 
1682; and Elizabeth, born 7th. April, 1683. He was 
killed by the Indians, 28th. Sept., 1691. 

POLLARD, THOMAS.— The family came from Coventry, 

Eng. Pie married Jlfoj^ . His children were, 

1. John, born 20rh. Sept., 1727; 2. Ehenezer, born 4th. 
Dec, 1728 ; 3. Thomas, born 17th. Sept., 1730. 

PRENTICE, REV. NATHANIEL.— His children were, 
1. Mary, born 2d. Jan., 1725; 2. JHlliam Henry, born 
2d. Dec, 1726; 3. JVathaniel, born 29th. May, 1729. 



APPENDIX. 



249 



PATTERSON, JAMES, and Mary, his wife. Had a son, 
John, born lOth. April, 1711. 

POWERS, CAPT. PETER, and Anna Keyes, bis wife ; the 
first settlers of ITollis. He died 27tli. Aug., 1757; his 
widow died 21st. Sept., 1798, aged 90. His children 
were, 1 . Peter, born 29th. Nov., 1728 : graduated at Har- 
vard, 1758 : was a minister 40 years, and died at Deer la- 
land. Me., in 1800, aged 72; 2. Stephen, born 28th. Oct., 
1729; 3. Anna,hovv\ 9th. March, 1731 : married Ben- 
jamin Hopkins, of Milford. For a farther account see 
Powers' Centennial Address at Hollis. 

ROBBINS, LT. JONATHAN.— Probably came from 
Concord, Mass.: married Margaret Goold; was Lieu- 
tenant under Lovevvell, and killed in the fight, 8th. 
May, 1725. His children were, J6?wc, born 26th. Dec, 
1712; Margaret, born 29th. Feb. 1716; Jonathan, born 
4th. Nov., 1718; Elvira, and Elizabeth. 

RICHARDSON, JOSIAH, and Phebe, his wife. Had 
children, Phebe, born 19th. Jan., 1728; Josiah, horn 
28tli. Sept., 1729; Lucy, born 5th. Oct., 1731 ; Eunice, 
born 13th. Oct., 1733. 

SEARLES, SAMUEL, and Sarah, his wife. His children 
were, Sarah, born 20th. Oct., 1700; Deliverance; Samu- 
el, born 1st. March, 1707; Mary; Daniel, born 17th. 
July, 1715; John, horn 11th. Oct., 1717 ; Jonathan, born 
21st. Sept., 1720. 

SEARLES, SAMUEL, 2d.— Son of the preceding; born 
1st. March, 1707. His children were, Samuel, born 4tli. 
Sept., 1738 ; Benjamin, horn 6th. Sept., 1740. 

SEARLES, DANIEL.— Son of Smnuel, 1st.: born 17th. 
July, 1715. His children were, Oliver, born 20th. 
Aug., 1736; and James, born 17th. Nov., 1738. 



250 APPENDIX. 



SOLLENDJNE, JOHN.— Married 2d. Aug., 1680. His 
children were, Sarah, born April, 1682; John, born 
May, 1683; Alice, born Jan., 1686. 

SMITH, DEA. BENJAMIN.— Born 1736: died 29th. 
March, 1821, aged 85. 

SWAN, REV. JOSIAH.— Married Jane, daughter of Capt. 
Josiah Blanchard. Had a son, Josiah, born 25th. Aug., 
1740. 

TAYLOR, ABRAHAM, and Mary, his wife. Born about 
1690; from Concord, Mass. His children were, 1. 
Abraham; 2. Samuel; 3. Timof%, born 1st. Sept., 1718; 
4. Alice; 5. Amos, horn 10th. Sept., 1725. 

TAYLOR, JONATHAN, and Hannah, his wife. His 
children were, David, born 1st. Jan., 1723; Jonathan 
and Ephraim, born 8th. Se{)t., 1725; Hannah; Esther; 
Sarah; JVathan, born 9th. Oct., 1734 ; Oliver, born 6th. 
April, 1737 ; Sampson, born 6th. Dec, 1739. 

TAYLOR, SAMUEL.— Son of Abraham. His children 
were, Reuben, born 8th. March, 1733 ; Samuel, born 
13th. Oct., 1734 ; Susannah. 

TEMPLE, CHRISTOPHER.— Phobably from Concord, 
Mass.; married Alice, daughter of Joseph Hassell, 3d. 
Dec, 1685: killed by the Indians, 28th. Sept., 169L 
His children were, Jeremiah, born 6th. Oct., 1686 ; Alice, 
born 3d. Jan., 1689; Christopher, born 3d. Oct., 1690. 

TYNG, HON. EDWARD.— From Boston, where he was 
Rep. Assistant, and Major General ; removed to Dun- 
stable in 1679, and died 28th. December, 1681, aged 81. 
His children were, Jonathan, born 15th. Dec, 1642; 
Edward, Governor of Annapolis, &c. ; Hannah, who 
married Habijah Savage, and for a second husband. 



APPENDIX. 251 



Rev. Thomas Weld ; Eunice, wife of Rev. Samuel Wil- 
lard, President of Harvard College; Rebecca, wife of 
Gov. Joseph Dudley ; and another daughter who mar- 
ried a Searle. 

TYNG, HON. JONATHAN.— Son of Hon. Edward; 
married .SaroA, daughter of /feseHa/t Usher: died 9th. 
Jan., 1724. His children were, John, born about 1660 ; 
graduated Harvard College, 1690: killed by Indians in 
Aug., 1710; William, born 22d. April, 1679; Jonathan, 
born 29th. Sept., 1686 ; Eleazer, born 30th. April, 1690 : 
graduated Harvard College, 1712; Bersheba, {-a son) born 
5th. Feb., 1694 ; Mary. 

TYNG, ELEAZER.— Son o^ Jonathan; born 3d. April, 
1690 : graduated Harvard College 1712. His children 
were, Jonathan, born 10th. Sept. 1717; Sarah, born 22d. 
April, 1720, who married John Winslow; Benjamin, born 
26th. January, 1722; John Alford, [Judge Tyng,] born 
29th. August, 1729; James, born 6th. March, 1731. 

USHER, ROBERT.— Son or relative of Hezekiah Usher; 
from Charlestown, Mass. His children were, John, 
born 31st. May, 1696 ; Robert, born June 1700; killed 
in Pigwacket fight. 

USHER, JOHN.—Son of the preceding: born 31st. May, 
1696 ; his children were, John, born 2d. May, 1728 ; 
Robert, born 9th. April, 1730; Rachel; Habijah, born 
8th. August, 1734. 

WALDO, JOHN.— From Chelmsford : son of Z^ea. Corm- 
lius Waldo; removed to D. His children were, John, 
born about 1682; Catharine; Rebecca. 

WALDO, DANIEL.-Son of Dea. Cornelius. He had two 
daughters, born 1684, and 1687. 



99 



— — — — -^ ' — - - M 

252 APPENDIX. 



wb^M« 



WARNER, SAMUEL.— Married Mary Swallow 4th. May, 
1684. His children were, Eliezer, born 27th. Jan. 1686 ; 
Priscilla. 

WELD, REV. THOMAS.— First minister of Dunstable : 
son oi Thomas ^Fe^c^ of Roxbury, Mass.; married Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Rev. John IVilson of Medfield, 9th. No- 
vember, 1681, who died 29th. July, 1687; his second 
wife was widow Hannah Savage, daughter of Hon. Ed- 
ward Tyng. He died in 1702; she died at the resi- 
dence of her son. Rev. Hahijah S. Weld, in Attleboro', 
Mass., in 1731. His children were, Elizabeth, born 13th. 
October, 1682; Thomas, born 7th. February, 1684; by 
his first wife : and Samuel, born 4th. March, 1701 ; and 
Habijah Savage, born in September, 1702, by his second 
wife ; ordained at Attleborough, Mass., 1727, and died 
there in 1782, aged 80. (1.) 

WHITING, SAMUEL.— Probably a sou of Rev. Samuel 
Whiting, of Billerica; born 19th. January, 1662; died 
14th. March, 1715, aged 51. His children were, Samuel, 
born 22d. October, 1687 ; who was in the Pigwacket 
Fight; Elizabeth; Catharine; Leonard, born 12th. Aug. 
1693; Joseph, born 14th. Dec. 1695; Mary; Dorcas; 
John,horn 11th. March, 1706. 

WHITING, JOSEPH.— Born about 1735; grandson of 
preceding ; married Abigail Chamberlain, 11th. June, 
1761 ; she died 19th. April, 1779. His children were, J. 
Joseph, born 13th. November, 1761 ; died 21st. August, 
1778; 2. Samuel, born 30th. June, 1763 ; died at Am- 
herst in March, 1805, aged 42; 3. Susanna, born 20th. 

(1.) Of Mr. Weld it is said, that he "was distinguished for his 
usefulness in the ministry, a-nd highly respected as a man, both at 
home and abroad. He united to an uncommon degree the affections 
of his people for a period of fifty-five years, during which he was 
their pastor." — White's Early History of N. jB., 271. 



APPENDIX. 



253 



March, 1705 ; 4. Leonard, born 16tli. January, 1767 ; 
5. Oliver ^ born 29th. January, 1769 ; 6. William, born 
28th. September, 1770; died in Merrimac; 7, Eliza- 
beth, born 16th. July, 1772; 8. Thomas, born 20th. Oct., 
1774; died at Amherst; 9. Abigail, born 18th. August, 
1776; 10. Jonathan, born I4th. February, 1778; died 
at Amherst, 



-M 






APPENDIX NO. 11. 



LIST OF SOLDIERS IN THE ARMY. 

List of soldiers from that part of Dunstable which is 
now in New Hampshire, in the Army of the Revolution, 
from 1775 to 1783: (1.) 

David Adams,* David Adams, Jr.,* Richard Adams,* 
Henry Adams, Silas Adams,f Isaac Adams,f John Alld, 
David Alld, Jacob Adams,f James BIanchard,f Quarter- 
master of Scammel's regiment; Josiah Butterfield, Abel 
Butterfield, Simeon Butterfield,* Thomas Butterfield, Chas. 
Butterfield, Benjamin Bayley,* Oliver Blodgett, Daniel 
Blood,f James Brown,* a Lieutenant; Samuel Butterfield,f 
John Butler,t killed at Hubberton, Vt., July 7th., 1777 ; 
Ebenezer Bancroft, (2.) Jonathan Bancroft, Ephraim Blood,t 
Reuben Blood,f Simeon Blood,f John Blanchard,f Nathan- 
iel Blanchard, Jonathan Butterfie]d,f Timothy Blood,f 
Eliphalet Bayley,* Eieazer Blanchard,* William Butter- 
field,* Pa^l Clogstone,* died at Cambridge, 1775 ; John 
Cockle,t Stephen Conery,f John Conery,f Medad Combs,* 
Joseph Combs, died in the army; William Cox, Thomas 

(I.) Those persons to whose name (*) is appended, were in the 
Battle of Bunker Hill ; those with (t) appear from the records to 
have belonged to this town; the others are deriyed from the recol- 
tions of the survivors who are still living. 

(2.) They resided on the southern border of the town, and wore 
called of Dunstable, though afterwards living in Tyngshorough, 



0^ 



^. 



APPENDIX. 



IB: 



Clark, John Clogstone, Samuel Conery, William Dnndley, 
James^andley, Josepli Dix, Jonathan Danforth,* Noah 
Downs,! Castor Dickinson, [colored ;] Jonathan Emerson,* 
a lieutenant under Cilley ; Ehenezer Fosdick,* Benjamin 
French, Jr., killed in the army; John Fletciier, Joseph 
Fan-ar, Eleazer Fisk, [living;] David Fisk, Nathan Fisk, 
Richard Francis, Isaac Foot, [living;] Theodore French, 
John French, Archibald Gibson,* James Gibson,* William 
Gibbs,t David Gilson,t David Gilson, Jr.,t Peter Honey,* 
Peter Honey, Jr., died in the army ; William Harris,^' died 
in the army; William Harris, Jr.,* Jonathan Harris,* Abra- 
ham Hale, William Hunt, John Honey, Jr., died in the 
army; Thomas Harwood, James Harwood,* killed at 
Hubberton, Vt., July 7th., 1777; Ebenezer Harris, Jr., [liv- 
ing:] William Honey, Abijah Honey, Calvin Honey ,t Ar- 
chibald Harrod, James Harrod,f died December, 1777, in 
army: John Honey, John Hnrvi'ood, Joseph Honey,f Cal- 
vin Honey ,t died in the army: Israel Ingalls, James Jewellj 
[living;] Nathaniel Jewell, Nathaniel Kemp, Jeremiah 
Keith,t Reuben Killicut, Charity Killicut, William Lund,* 
killed at Bunker Hill; Joel Lund,t an Ensign ; John Lund,* 
Jonathan Lund, Thomas Lund, Jonathan Lcvevvcll, Jr., 
Jonathan Lovewell.f Ichabod Lovewell,* John Lovewell,* 
Nehemiah Lovewell,* Henry Lovev/ell,* Asa Lovejoy, 
Noah Lovewelijf Quarter-master of Col. Gilman's regi- 
ment; Joseph Lamson, Jr.,t William Lancey, Richard 
Lovewell, Stephen Lovewell, [colored ;] Thomas Lancey, 
Levi Lund, William Mann,f killed in the army; John Man- 
ning,! taken prisoner at Ticonderoga, and afterwards re- 
taken ; Eliphalet Manning,! Jonathan Powers, Thomas 

Perry,! Ebenezer Perry, William Powell, Pike, 

William Quinton,! William Roby,* an Ensign, and died 
in the army ; Samuel Roby, John Robbins, Jr., Abijah 
Reed,* Abbot Roby,* Benjamin Robbins, David Reed,! 

*22 ~ 



-.v*l 



256 



APPENDIX. 



Thomas Roby, John Searles. Benjamin Smith, John 
Snow, Jr.,* Joseph Swallow,* Joel Stewart,* Daniel Shed,f 
Joseph Snow, died in the army ; Daniel Searles, David 
Smiley,t James Seal,t Silas Swallow,f Benjamin Taylor, 
Jacob Taylor, Benjamin Temple, Levi Temple, Benjamin 
Taylor, Jr.,t William Walker,* a Captain and Major; Dan- 
iel Warner,* Quarter-master ; Joseph Whiting, Wenioll 
Wright, Oliver Woods,* died at Cambridge ; Oliver Woods, 
Jr., John Wright. Jr.,t Benjamin Whitney,* Sylvanus Whit- 
ney, Phinehas Whitney,* Paul Woods,* Daniel Wood,t 
Nehemiah Wright,* Oliver Wright,f Jonathan Wright,t 
Samuel Whiting,! Oliver Whiting,-|^ 



APPENDIX NO. HI 



DESCRIPTION OF TOWN HOUSE, AND 
CEMETERY. 

The following description of the Nashua Town House, 
and Cemetery, is taken from the Directory of 1843. The 
Town House was completed in the spring of 1843: — 

At the annual meeting of the Town of Nashua, March, 
1842, it was voted to erect a Town House. The com- 
mittee appointed to receive proposals for a site on which 
it should be erected, purchased of Aaron F. Sawyer, Esq., 
the land on which stood his house and office, a lot about 
95 by 133 feet. The building connnittee were Leonard 
W. Noyes, Israel Hunt, Jr., Thomas Chase, Fracklin 
Fletcher, and Samuel Shepherd, Esqs. Samuel Shep- 
herd, Esq., was chosen Architect; and under his superin- 
tendence, the edifice, for taste in its design and utility in 
its construction, is not surpassed by any other structure 
of the kind in New England. It is constructed of brick 
on a very durable foundation of stone, with a basement 
of fine hammered granite. The ornaments, lamp stands, 
and balconies, mostly from Grecian patterns, are of cast 
iron. The portico, 7 feet by 18, is of iron on a base of 
granite. 

The building is 66 by 90 feet, and consists of the base- 
ment, first and second stories, and the attic. 



258 APPENDIX. 



One half of the basement is used for a cellar; the other 
half ife occupied as a market, it being 9 feet high, 4 feet 
of which are above ground. Jt is well lighted, and there 
is good access from the north, south and west sides. 

The first story contains two large rooms, the entrances 
to which are on Main street, each 18 by 24 feet and 13 1-2 
feet high, one on each side of the front entrance ; occu- 
pied as stores. In the rear of these rooms are two smaller 
ones, each 18 by 14 feet, occupying nearly one half of the 
first story ; and in the rear of the above rooms, is the 
lower hall, a fine room 17 feet high and 38 by 63 feet. It 
is lighted by seven windows, and contains a gallery — thus 
giving room for an audience of abotitfive hundred persons. 
The entries in this story are very spacions. The front 
entry is 3S feet in length and 8 in width. Entering this 
from the portico on Main street, we observe first two spa- 
cious stairways for the ascent to the third story. On our 
right and left, beyond the stairs, are entrances to the rooms 
fronting on Main street. Following the entry to its end, 
we find the door, opening into the lower hall. Crossing 
at right angles the eastern end of the entry we have 
described, is another entry, leading from the north to the 
south side of the building, 6G feet long and 10 wide. — 
These of couse give three doors for entrance or exit. On 
this second entry are the two smaller rooms. Ascending 
the stairs into the second story, we find the Town Hall, 
70 feet long, 63 feet wide, 24 feet high, with moveable 
seats, arranged so as to form a centre aisle and two side 
aisles. With the gallery, there is sufiicient room for 
1300 persons to be comfortably seated. It is lighted by 
eleven large windows. There are also, in this story, two 
small rooms, one on each side of the stairway, each 14 by 
12 feet, and occupied as offices. The attic, 70 by 20 
feet, is finished for the use of military companies. 
- ■ - M 



APPENDIX. 



259 



The height of the building, from the ground to the top 
of the cupola, is about 100 feet. Tiie cost was nearly 
$23,000. 



NASHUA CEMETERY. 

March 19, 1835, the proprietors of the real estate of 
the First Unitarian Congregational Society in Dunstable 
passed a vote appropriating their grounds contiguous to the 
meeting-house for a burial place, under the designation 
of the Nashua Cemetery. In addition to which, a piece 
of land, owned by Daniel Abbot, Esq., lying north of the 
premises above described, containing about 8,000 feet, was 
purchased and appropriated to the same use. After hav- 
ing disposed of 29 lots by subscription, at $25 per lot, the 
proprietors enclosed the ground with a substantial fence, — 
made the several paths and avenues, and divided the whole 
into 85 lots of 20 by 17 feet each. Five lots were reserved 
as ministerial lots for the then religious societies in Dun- 
stable. Four only were accepted. The first was accepted 
by the First Congregational Society in Dunstable, the 
second by the First Congregational Society in Nashuei, 
the third by the First Methodist Episcopal Society, the 
fourth by the Unitarian Society. 

In August, 1835, an addition to the Cemetery was made 
by the purchase of a piece of land of Mr. Christopher 
Paige, lying east of the same, containing about 35,000 
feet, by an association of individuals for that purpose, 
to be known by the name of The JVashua Cemetery Ad- 
ditional, and which was divided into 104 lots, two of 
which were appropriated by the proprietors for the use 
and benefit of strangers. Of the 85 lots in the original 
Cemetery, 22 remain unsold, leaving 26 lots unsold out 
of 189 in both Cemeteries. 



260 APPENDIX. 



The price of lots is $26, with interest from June 15, 
1835. The officers of the Cemetery consist of a Commit- 
tee of three, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The present of- 
ficers are, Daniel Abbot, Joseph Greeley, and Moses Ty- 
ler, Committee. John A. Baldwin, Secretary. Alfred 
Greeley, Treasurer. 



t- 



APPENDIX NO. IV. 



POPULATION OF NASHUA. 

The population of the town at various periods has 



about 100 rateable polls, " 
262 males ; 258 females, 
376 males ; 329 females, 



been as follows :- 

1680 

1701 

1711 

1730 

1756 

1767 

1775 

1783 

1790 

1800 

1810 

1820 

1830 

1836 

1837 

1838 



30 families, or about 120 inhabitants. 



25 
13 
50 



2105 males ; 2960 females, 
2138 « 3472 " 
2167 " 3524 



180 
86 

250 

450 (1.) 

520 (2.) 

705 

578 (3.) 

632 

862 
1049 
1142 
2417 
5065 
5610 
5691 



(( 

<( 

(( 

(( 

a 
i( 
(( 

(C 

u 



(1.) This included a part of Hollis. Of these rateable polls, 
" not above forty were able to bear town charges." So says a pe- 
tition of the day. 

(2.) There were 32 unmarried males between 16 and CO years of 
age; 69 married males of the same age; males under 16 years, 
151 ; males over 60 years, 10. 

(3.) lu 1783 there were in Nashua 88 dwelling-houses, and 74 
barns. 



262 APPENDIX. 



1840 : 2285 males ; 3G75 females, 5960(4)iahabitaiJts. 

1840: August U» S. Census, 6054 " 

1841: 2389 males ; 3770 females, 6159 " 

1842:(o)2608 " 3828 « 6436 " 

, Q.Q.Nashua, 3779? -n-oo u 

^^^^ ' Nashville, 2354 \ ^'^^ 

^S4^^NrshvUie,2l^'^ ^«^1 " 

(4.) The number of polls in 1339 was 1032 ; in 1840, 1146. 
(5.) The town was divided June 23, 1S42. 



APPENDIX NO. V 



LAWYERS AND PHYSICIANS. 

Attorneys at Law. — Previous to 1800 ilierewas no 
regular bred attorne}^ in town. Judge Love well and Judge 
Blanchard acted in ibat capacity whenever necessity re- 
quired. In 1802, Hon. Daniel Abbot opened an office a 
little south of the old South Meeting House, but in 1803 
he removed to the spot where Nashua village now stands, 
which was then an almost unbroken forest. About 1819, 
Samuel Abbot, Esq., of Wilton, opened an office also, but 
remained a short time only. In 1816, Benjamin F. French, 
Esq. opened an office, and practised in partnership with Mr. 
Abbot until he was appointed agent of the Jackson Com- 
pany, in 1831. At present there are, arranged in the order 
of their residence in town: Hon. Daniel Abbot,* Hon. 
Charles G. Atherton,* Aaron F. Sawyer, George Y. Saw- 
yer, Benjamin F. Emerson,* A. P. Dudley, B. B. Whitte- 
more, A. F. Stevens, A. W. Sawyer, Charles B. Fletcher, 
Benjamin M. Farley. 

Hon. Charles F. Gove — Judge of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas — also resides in Nashville. 

Physicians and Surgeons. — During the Revolution- 
ary war and for many years jjrevious, Dr. Nathan Cutler 
was the only physician in town. After the war. Dr. Eb- 
enezer Starr, of Dedliam, who married Hannah, daughter 

* Now reside in Nashville. 



264 



APPENDIX. 



^ 



of Hon. Joseph Blanchard, removed here, and died Sep- 
tember, 1798, aged 52. After his death, his son, Dr. Au- 
gustus Starr, who married Rebecca, daughter of Hon. Jon- 
atlian Blanchard, resided and practised in town for some 
years. Dr. Maynard resided here in 1803 ; he afterwards 
removed to Boston, where he died. About this time. Dr. 
Peter Howe practised here for a number of years, until 
Dr. Ebenezer Dearborn removed here, who still resides in 
town. There are now 7iine physicians in Nashua, who are 
named according to the length of their residence in town. 
Ebenezer Dearborn, Elijah Colburn, Micah Eldridge, Jo- 
siah G. Graves,* Edward Spalding, Josiah Kittredge, 
Evan B. Hammond, J. H. Graves.* J. F. Whittle. 
J. & S. Ball, Surgeon Dentists. 

* Now reside in Nashville. 



APPENDIX MOo VL 



LIST OF THE REPRESENTATIVES TO THE 
GENERAL COURT. 

1689, May session, John Waldo. 

June session, Cornelius Waldo. 
December session, Robert Parris. 

1G92, Hon, Jonathan Tyngand Maj.Thomas Henchman. 

From this time, until annexed to New Hampshire, it 
was too poor and feeble to be able to send a Representa- 
tive. After its annexation to New Hampshire, the Royal 
Governor refused the town the privilege of representation. 
In 1768, it was classed with Holiis, and Dr. John Hale 
elected. 

1774, September, Jonathan Lovewell, delegate to the 
Revolutionary Convention at Exeter. 

1775, April, Joseph Ayers, delegate to the Revolutionary 
Convention at Exeter. 

1775, May, Joseph Ayers and Noah Lovewell, delegates 
to the Revolutionary Convention at Exeter. 

1775, December, Jonathan Blanchard, delegate to the 
Revolutionary Convention at Exeter. 

1776, Jonathan Blanchard. 
Jonathan Lovewell, 1777, 1778. 
Noah Lovewell, 1779, 1780. 
William Hunt, 178L 
Benjamin French, 1782. 



\ 266 APPENDIX. 



[Names of Representatives from 1782 to 1793, not pre- 
served.] 

Frederick French, 1793, 1795, 1797, 1803, 1805, 1806. 

Noah Lovewell, 1794, 1796, 1802. 

Theodore French, 1801, 1804. 

Zaccheiis Lovewell, 1807. 

Thomas French, 1809, 1813, 1814. 

Daniel Abhot, 1810, ]811, 1832, 1821, 1838, 1839. 

Timothy Taylor, 1815. 

Jesse Bowers, 1816, 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820, 1822, 1823, 
1824. 

Benjamin F. French, 1825, 1826, 1829. 

1826, Benjamin F. French, Eleazer F. Ingalls. 

1827, Eleazer F. Ingalls, William Boardman. 

1828, Israel Hunt, Jr., Moody D. Lovewell. 

1829, Benjamin F. Frencii, James Osgood. 

1830, Moody D. Lovewell, Charles G. Atherton. 

1831, James Osgood, Josiah Fletcher, (died before tak- 
ing his seat.) 

1832, Eleazer F. Ingalls, Robert Anderson. 

1833, Charles G. Atherton, Moody D. Lovewell. 

1834, Moody D. Lovewell, Charles G. Atherton, Zebe- 
diah Shattiick. 

1835, same as 1834. 

1836, Charles G. Atherton, Benjamin L. Jones, Zebe- 
diah Shattuck. 

1837, Benjamin L. Jones, George W. Bagley, Hugh 
Jameson, Charles J. Fox. 

1838, Daniel Abbot, Stephen Kendrick, George Y. 
Sawyer, Silas Butterfield. 

1839, same as 1838. 

1840, George Y. Sawyer, Isaac Spalding, Albin Beard, 
Josephus Baldwin. 

1841, same as 1840. 



=i 



APPENDIX. 



267 



1842, Leonard W. Noyes, Abner Andrews, Anthony 
Gage. 

2843, Josephus Baldwin. 

1844, no election. 

1845, Thomas Chase, William F. Lawrence, Josephus 
Baldwin. 

1846, Thomas Chase, William F, Lawrence, Isaac 
Spalding, Aaron F. Sawyer. 

REPRESENTATIVES OF NASHVILLE. 

1843, William Boardman, Albert McKean, 

1844, E. T. Merrill, Albert McKean. 

1845, William Wetherbee, Ziba Gay, 

1846, Ziba Gay, Albin Beard, 



IBB: 



*23 



I 



APPENDIX NO. Til. 



PROPORTION OF THE PUBLIC TAXES AT 

VARIOUS PERIODS. 

The wealth of tiie town as compared with that of the 
whole Stale may be lear.'ied from the following a{)portion- 
ments required to be paid by the town at different periods 
out of every thousand dollars raised by the Stut€. 



1775 


: the 


proportion 


was 


85.15 


1 


1794: 


(( 


(( 


(; 


4.14 




1803 


(C 


» 


c 


3.43 




1808 


a 




•> 


3.80 




1812 


11 




ti 


3.47 




1816 


(e 




u 


4.46 




1820 


li 




li. 


4.20 




1824 


» 




u 


4.83 




1828 


(( 




u 


10.00 


1 

i 


1832 


a 




(t 


11.99 




1836 


a 




(I 


29.19 




1840 


(C 




ii 


28.50 




1844 


: " 




(( 


20.42 




Nash 


ville's proportion 


in 1844, was 


14.98 










« 




^t 



:--=*3* 



APPENDIX NO, VIIL 



VALUE OF SILVER AT DIFFERENT PERIODS, 

In order to compare the value of sums of money as 
used at different periods, the fluctuation of which, as com- 
pared with paper, has been very great, I subjoin the follow- 
ing table prepared by Dr. Belknap, 5 N. H. Hist. Coll., 
258. The value of silver is now fixed at six shillings eight 
pence ($1.08) per ounce. In 1750, it was worth 5G shillings 
per ounce. The common currency had depreciated there- 
fore in 1750, 88 per cent., or a dollar in paper was worth 
but 12 cents in silver. 

In 1700 silver was worth about 10 shillings per ounce. 



1704 


11 


a 


(( 


a 


I 


n 


cc 


i( 


1705 


a 


u 


(t 


(( 


10 


a 


(( 


cc 


1710 


(I 


(( 


(( 


(( 


8 


(( 


tc 


(( 


1715 


n 


a 


{( 


u 


10 


u 


(C 


(( 


1720 


u 


a 


(; 


cc 


12 


u 


h( 


it 


1725 


a 


a 


(( 


cc 


15(1 


)" 


ii, 


(( 


1730 


a 


a 


a 


(C 


21 


ii 


C( 


ii 


1735 


ii 


ii 


a 


cc 


27 


li 


(( 


C( 


1740 


u 


li 


It 


C( 


29 


li 


u * 


u 


1745 


a 


li 


a 


(C 


3G 


cc 


cc 


ii 


1750 


a 


cc 


(I 


C( 


5G 


(( 


(C 


ii 



(1.) In 1721 the colony issued 50,000^. bills of credit, and in 1727, 
60,000/!. more. Other issues were made about 1745, to defray the 
expenses of the Louisburg Expedition. Prom these periods the rise 
in the value of silver as compared with paper is very striking. 



=^ 



APPENDIX NO. IX. 



HISTORY OF THE POST OFFICE IN NASHUA. (1.) 

The Post Office in this town was established some- 
time between April 1st., and July 1st., 1803, and Gen. Noah 
Lovewell appointed Postmaster. The office was opened 
in the tavern of Mr. Cumniings Pollard, who was appointed 
Assistant Postmaster, and had the charge of the office 
imtil 1811. Up to that time it was located in the tavern 
lately owned and occupied by Mr. Silas Gibson. 

In 1811, the office was removed to the " Hai'hour" so 
called, and placed under the charge of Israel Hunt, who 
was appointed Assistant Postmaster, and in whose dwell- 
ing house it was stationed. After its removal to the latter 
place, it being located near the residence of Gen. Love- 
well, he continued to superintend the duties of the office 
personally until his death, which took place in May, 1820. 
Upon his death, John M. Hunt, Esq., was appointed and 
commissioned in June, 1820. He established the office in 
the office of I. and J. M. Hunt, (at the Harbour,) where it 
re'mained until 1826, when it was removed to Nashua 
Village, soon after the erection of the cotton mills. Since 
its establishment in 1803, the receipts of the office have 
increased to an astonishing, and almost incredible degree. 

The receipt for the first quarterly balance of postage, 

(1.) This sketch was prepared for the Nashua Directory, by 
John M. Hunt, Esq. 



:Si 



APPENDIX. 



271 



55.95: 




80.00 


350.64: 




510.00 


1715.53: 




2450.00 


1902.30: 




2679.02 


997.18: 




1406.61 


905.12: 


('. 


1272.41 



for the quarter ending June 30, 1803, is still on file in the 
office, and acknowledges the sum of tiventy cents! ! For 
the quarter ending September 30, 1805, the receipts of the 
office had increased to the sum of two dollars, eighty-seven 
cents, yielding a commission as compensation for discharg- 
ing the various duties of the office of eighty-six cents per 
quarter, or three dollars, f orty-f our cents per annum. 

But a glance at the finances of the office at periods of 
ten years will best show its rapid advancement. 
In 1810 the net rec'ts to the Gen. P. O. were ^31. 86: gross $46.00 

1830 " " " " " " " 
1840 " " " '■' ' " '* 
1845 /* " " " " " " 

First 6 m'ths of '45 under the old postage law, 997.18 
Last 6 months under the new law, 

Difference, S 92.06 S 134.20 

The present facihties for travelling, when compared 
with those of by-gone days, have placed the expedition 
of the mails on a par with their advancement in amount 
of business and increase of revenue. In former times, 
Wheat's old mail stage occupied two days in travelling 
from Amherst to Boston, and " put up " regularly for the 
night in Billerica, Now by the aid of steam power and 
railroad accommodation, we can receive a mail from Boston 
in less than two hours I 

Forty years ago there was not a single letter or news- 
paper brought into this town by mail conveyance. For 
the quarter ending September 30, 1840, the amount of post- 
age collected on letters was five hundred and twenty-three 
dollars, and on newspapers and pamphlets one hundred 
and thirteen dollars, eighty cents. 



.^: 



-S 



APPENDIX NO. X. 



INVENTORY AND EXPENSES OF NASHUA 

The Inventory of the town in 1839 was $2,511,501.- 
In 1840 it was $2,467,822, which is thus made up : 
Real estate, including factory buildings and 
machinery, mills, locks and canals, and toll 



bridge, 


$2,102,272 


285 horses valued at 


14,656 


115 pairs of oxen valued at 


4,250 


376 cows « " 


9,373 


144 other neat stock, " " 


2,437 


503 sheep " " 


1,509 


Stock in trade 


143,750 


Bank stock and money at interest 


112,900 


Other stocks 


70,400 


Carriages 


6,275 



$2,467,822 

EXPENSES OF THE TOWN FOR THE TEAR ENDING MARCH, 1841. 

For repairs of highways, $1,933.88 

For building new roads 2,928.22 

For the support of schools and school houses 4,000.95 

For military expenses 331.50 



Amount carried up, $9194.55 



APPENDIX. 


273 1 


Amount brought up, 


$9194.55 


For town and county paupers 


1,385.81 


For police expenses 


84.36 


For services of town officers and incidental j 


expenses 


950.21 


For bounties 


11.25 


For State tax for the year 1 840 


1,167.60 


For county tax 


768.61 


For collection of taxes 


223.69 


For old bills and orders 


1,518.33 


$15,304.41 


Of this amount the sum of $11,555.72 


was raised by 


the assessment of taxes, and the balance 


principally de- 


frayed from the surplus revenue. 




In 1740, a century ago, the whole amount of money 


raised for ail the " town charges," exclusive of the minis- 


ter tax, was about Jijly dollars ! 




The following tables will show the expenses of the 


towns of Nashua and Nashville, for the year 1845 : 


EXPENSES OF NASHUA. 




Repairs of highways and bridges 


$1816.88 


Support of schools 


2223.37 


Military expenses 


141.00 


Balance of alms house expenses 


451.58 


Pauper expenses other than alms house 


95.35 


County paupers 


300.65 


Town house 


77.50 


Fire department 


553.29 


Burial grounds, hearse, &c. 


62.81 


Police expenses 

Amount carried up, 


119.61 


$5,842.04 



n — -- 

274 APPENDIX. 



Amount brought up, $5,842.04 

Printing and stationery 79.50 

Miscellaneous 61.00 

Old bills and interest 7374.03 

Services of town officers 375.08 

State and county tax 2775.79 

Collection of taxes 153.16 



§10,660.60 



EXPENSES OF NASHVJLLE. 

Repairs of highways and bridges 1097.46 

Schools and school houses 2332.61 

Military 115.50 

Printing and stationery 35.06 

Alms house 934.70 

Paupers other than alms house 325.60 

County paupers 134.00 

Town officers 288.10 

Miscellaneous 485.25 

State tax 898.80 

County tax 1137.50 

Paid old orders 400.00 

Tax outstanding 137.40 

Paid collector and constabUr 104.97 

>>-8,462.95 



APPENDIX NO. XL 



STATISTICS OF THE DISTRICT SCHOOLS. 

The town was first divided into school districts, five in 
number, and school houses erected, in 1775. Previously 
one teacher had been employed by the town to " keep 
school" indifferent places alternately. The sum raised 
never exceeded and rarely equalled one hundred dollars. — 
There are now eleven districts, and the whole amount of 
money raised and expended during the fiscal year 1840, 
for schools and school houses, was $4,000.95 ; of which 
$263.93 only were expended for the latter. The amount 
required by law to be raised by the towi> was only $2,627.10. 

From the following table we learn that there were 11 
districts, 17 schools, and 26 teachers. The amount of money 
expended for the support of teachers and for fuel, was $3,- 
411.00. The whole number of scholars in all the districts 
was 1452. Of these 1268, (viz: 613 males and 655 fe- 
males,) attended school in summer ; and 1188, (viz: 696 
males and .492 females,) attended school in winter. The 
average attendance in summer was only 722, however, 
and in winter only 788 ; shewing that almost one half of 
all the children in town were constantly absent from 
school. 



'2J 



276 



APPENDIX. 



STATISTICS OF THE SCHOOLS IN NASHUA, FOR 1840. 

[Previous to the division of the Town.) 



( p 


•-3 
3 


p 

r 


Number of Teachek.s. 


J 

11 
g 2 
P-l 


•s. 

< 
-f. 


■A 

= '^ 
§--'^ 

C C 


ft 


3- 

p 

S 


>• 

< 

i 

n 

P 

3 
n 

? 




n 
3 

s- 

71 


Amount of inoney ap- 
1 propriated. 


\ 2 

- 
4 

: ^ 

: 9 

10 

11 


Sum. 
Win. 

vSiim. 
Win. 

Sum. 
Win. 

Sum. 
Win. 

Sum. 
Win. 

Sum. 
Win. 

Sum. 
Win. 

Sum. 
Win. 

Sum. 
Win. 

Sum. 
Win. 

Sum. 
Win. 


1. 
1. 

I. 
1. 

3. 

:j. 

T 
1. 

1. 
1. 

1. 
1. 


One female teacher, S 
One male. 


10.33 

2(i.()(J 

11. (10 
25.00 

11.60 
23.0() 

11.32 
20.00 


16 
12 

16 
9 

"21 
19 

14 

S 

9 
10 

16 
14 

14 

if 

29 

"23 
12 

26 
12 

20 
13 


27 
40 

45 
36 


13 

"28 
25 

m 

164 

12 
21 

10 
13 

13 
23 

T; 

26 
14 

250 


11 

17 

11 

151 
124 

12 
5 

10 
7 

1 
10 

23 
21 

17 

2I4 

165 


IS 
35 

25 
2S 

1S5 
1S3 

Id 
20 

18 
14 

18 
26 

23 
32 

13 

275 

274 

90 
80 

91 

83 


40 


131.00 1 
131.00 1 
758.16 j 
131.00 1 

88.77! 


One female. 
One male. 


45 


4 females; 17, 14,14&.«!13. 
im. c^31e.; 29, 17, 14 & .$14. 


292 

2.'iS 


358 


One female. 
One male. 


24 
26 

20 
20 
■)■) 
33 

40 

47 

31 


29 


One female. 
One male. 


22 


One female. 
One male. 


10.00 
21. 6b 

12.00 
24.00 

12.1J0 
12.00 


36 


131.00 1 


1. 
]. 

1. 
1. 

3. 
3. 

2. 

Y. 

2. 


One female. 
One male. 


47 


131.70 1 


One female. 
One fein.ile. 


3& 
556 
135 


88.77 j 

1177.47 

316.69 1 

326.14! 


1 male $12; 6 fem. 813 each. 
1 male ^42; 6 fern. 813 each. 


441 
415 

169 
114 

157 

13.S 


2 females; wasres, 14 k. §13. 
1 male, .$28; 1 female, *14. 




66 103 
53 61 

72 85 
so' 5S 


2 females; wages, $14 each. 
1 male, $27; 1 female, $14. 


154 


pi ^'1 -^ lEACHERb. [winter IllbSltiyS 492 7SSl^^^- |-^*"-""j 



Of the scholars in all the schoolsj 1000 attended to 
reading, 949 to spelling, 83J to arithmetic, 273 to geogra- 
phy, 152 to grammar, 54 to history, 17 to moral philosophy, 
16 to natural philosophy, 8 to chemistry, and 7 to algebra. 



APPENDIX. 



277 



STATISTICS OF THE SCHOOLS IN NASHUA, FOR 1815. 

Table of Teachers, Scholars, Attendance, SfC. 



H 


^ 


a> 


c 


•~s 


o 


1 


3 



1st 
2d 



i 1st 
)2d 



1st 



J 2d 



1st 



2d 



I 



5<^ isl 



1st 
2d 



( 1st 
^2d 



No. OF Teachers, s 



1 female. 
1 male. 



1 female. 
1 male. 



1 female. 
1 female. 
1 male. 
1 female. 



1 male & 2 females. 

2 females. 
2 females. 
1 female. 

1 male & 2 females. 

2 female.?. 
2 females. 
1 female. 



1 female. 



1 female. 
1 male. 



1 female. 
1 male. 



C«9 


2 


c 


P 


5 


3 


rT 




rr 


rr 


tc 




(T) 


Oi 




ri p 


f-l 


-s 




O = 




O 




s p. 


— 1 


i-s 




p-w 


^ 


!/2 




o 


rs 






p 


T) 


o 






?r 






p- 




p 




►13 




"I 
en 













*^ 






10.12 


14 


19 


09 


10 


15 


26.00 


9 


31 


20 


11 


25 


10.00 


12 


3.5 






25 


21.00 


10 


35 


20 


15 


25 


12.00 


16 


47 


19 


23 


24 


12.00 


16 


61 


30 


31 


38 


26.00 


14 


50 


26 


24 


35 


13.00 


12 


57 


35 


22 


39 


68.00 


26 


1S8 


90 


98 


80 


26.00 


26 


136 


58 


78 


60 


26.00 


26 


157 


75 


82 


81 


14.00 


26 


74 


23 


46 


40 


68.00 


11 


126 


61 


65 


93 


26.00 


11 


93 


46 


52 


71 


26 00 


11 


97 


59 


38 


68 


14.00 


11 


46 


19 


29 


33 


10.00 


10 
12 


20 

18 


9 

Fo 


11 

~8 


10 

il 


10.00 


22.67 


8 


29 
"29 


19 
15 


10 23| 

ni22| 


j 11.00 


123.00 


12 


36 


18 


13 


30 1 



101 34 



90 19 



302 31 



) 



1416 97,- 



25 001: 
98 34 5 






15^ 



27S 



APPENDIX. 



STATISTICS OF THE SCHOOLS IN NASHVILLE, FOR 1845. 

Table of Teachers, Scholar s. Attendance, ^x. 



H 


fc 


o 


o 


-< 


o 


d 


3 



No. OF Teachkrs. i 



Efl - 


2 






re" 


> 


o 

2 


cn? 


w 


.-< 


rr, 


S- 


-^ 


C/3 


I S 


c- 


^ 


'1. 

• 


CR 


Tii 


3 S 


-< 


-: 




t; 




o 


o ;; 


o 


O 






> 


~i 


• O 




:/- 






5 




P 


01 












Q 


5 






P 


PB 


t3 


CD 








o 

.^ 




1 i2 


'^■ 









o 



■73 



1st 

2d 



1 1 1 female. 
2 1 feraale. 



1st 



2<; 



2(1 



^\ 



1st 
2d 



1st 
2d 



1 male. 
1 female. 



1 male. 

1 female. 

1 female. 

1 female. 

1 male & female, 

1 female. 

1 female, 

I female. 



1 female. 
1 male. 



I female. 
1 female. 



14.00 


20 


44 


20 


24 


26 




14.00 


20 


54 


24 


30 


37 


160 


ao.oo 


16 


65 


27 


36 


52 


14.00 
35.00 


16 
25 


56 
90 


30 
42 


26 

4S 


40 
57) 


— 


IG.OO 


25 


65 


30 


35 


42 




16.00 


25 


70 


36 


34 


55 




16.00 


25 


35 


39 


46 


'52 


442 


49.00 


17 


SO 


45 


U 


59 


16.00 


17 


59 


27 


32 


45 




16.00 


17 


60 


33 


27 


47 




16.00 


17 


77 
22 


35 
10 


42 
~6 


56 

To 


20 


10.80 


11 


21,00 


10 


18 


16 


2 


12 


12.00 


15 


16 


'' 


9 


12 


19 


13.25 


12 


22 


10 


12 


17 



S3S0 38 



1032 95 \ 



91 75 



139 39 \ 



There are two academies in Nashua. " The Nashua 
Literary Institution," David Crosby, A. M.,and Mrs. Louisa 
S. H. Crosby, Principals ; and " The Nashua Academy," 
Zuinglius Grover, A. M., and Miss Caroline Wood, Princi- 
pals, These academies were both incori)orated in 1840. 
"Abbot's High School," in Nashville, is under the charge 
of Mr. Charles Abbot. Beside the usual branches taught 
in high schools, daily instruction is given in vocal and in- 
strumental music. 

There are also numerous private schools in the village, 
for small scholars. 






^ 



Errata. _ -In a v/oik aliouiiilinj like tlii, widi iian.o; riiiii J:!tes, aiij puL!i-;iird witiirjut 
he last revision anil superintendence of the author, occasioniil mistakes willjit is lioped, be 
e^arded as excusable. The following- list comprises all of imjiortance which have been' 
lletected : 

fa.ge. Line. Page. Line. 

ill, 7, for Dramcap read Dram-cup. 1G7, o, from bottom, for 1818 read 1S13. 

I 15, 3, for othordox read orthodox. ISO, note, line 6, lor Rindae read Kaby 

29, 21, for 1678 read lt;75. 181, 7, from top, for voled read veslrd. 

66, (5, for sagamon read sagamore. 207, 12, from top, for $1:3,000 read 1500. 

note 1, for supra read infra. 208, 2, from bottom, for 1S48 read 1S4.^ 

74, 10, At 20, for Ma"nolia read MagnalJa. 221, 21. from top, for 1775 read 1765. 

86, 9, for sure read sore. 225, last line, for 1775 read 1765. 

97, 5, from bottom for Shatercad Shule. 238, 16, for 1706 read 1726. 

108, 3, for Satwych's read Lutwvche's. 241, 8, for Warner read Warner. 
136, 19, for 1631 read 1731. " ;*46, 1, for 1791 read 1691. 

140, 31, for The bridge read No bridge. 251 , 7, for 1680 read 1670. 
33, for effected read aftected. 8, for 1690 read 1691. 

156, 5, from bottom, for 1746 read 1764. 261, 1, for IbO read 100. 

161, 12, from top, for even read ever. 274, last line, for 8,462.95 read 8,426.95. 

166, 6, from bottom, for 1758 read 1759. 
The name spelt "Lollendine" in the body of the work, is given as " Sollendine" fn 

le Appendix, wliich, on examination of the ancient records, appears to be correct. 




-»(♦■,. 



•^■'tmwf i im::^mmm 



^\}t Hatoell ©atlp Courier. 



^10^AY,^PRIL 4, 1881. 
TYNGSBORO'. 

An Interesting; I^etter. 

The following letter from a distinguished 
radiiate of Harvard university, published in 
the Harvard Register, will probably prove 
ij interesting to many of our readers : 

2 Ti^.j.-f^. ^ '■ ,/^\^^GSiiORO', February, 1881. 
m Editor oj the Harvard Eecjister: 
I 1 his little town, delightfully situated on 
I !^^t'\ ^'^^ «^ the Merrinnielv riVer, n th" 
I northerly part of Middlesex county, horde 
f ing on Nashua, N. H., with whi6h it wa. 
J formerly connected, as were many other 
\ towns, under the name of Dunstcible Ins 
Ibeenmuchic-lentitied by its cit zens w (h 
' ^^ri'^"^ '''"'°' '-"'''^ ^i-^^^^y^^d graduates. Bv 
;the town we mean the terdtorv from its 
earliest set lement, while it was part of te 
old township of Dunstable as well as after 
I Its incorporation as a parish or district and 
.subsequently as a town, it never containe 

W^. 1 1. M^ ^\ ^'**^ ^'^"^ t^e number has been 
tar less than that. The facts Nvhich we have 

»^^;;"^' ^'^ y^^ ^o^^-^c of 0"i' historical re 
sources of a more general character and 
which we will endeavor coiTCctly to rel te 
show to a marked degree the influence w id.' 
nidiyiduals exert in the ueighboiiiood of their 
residence, and among relaHves and friends 
everywhere, in respect to the coHege. 

J^dward Tyng, who came to this couutrv 
from London before 1640, settled in Bo" toi^ 

ixlVl ^^' ^^ ^^ uiHlerstood that his wife 
?. ;'2 '^^?'"'; '^'^^^ "^o'-" *" Dunstable, England 
fiom wluch place the old townshp took its 
name ,n honor of her. Mr. Tvn- was a tn 

^^^1%'^ ''''T^ to a sa/eitem,'as 
lilllJ: 16^, according to President ()uinev's 
History of Harvard University; and^lr 
vealfhi.''?""' V *""^ «^of "oneof iheearlies ; 

le cSoiu-''"TTi"^''' influential families in 
lae colon}. His second daughter, llebecpi 
??;^-;^'^\' Joseph Dudley (IGGol, vvho was the 

olmiia governor of Massachusetts ai 1 Sfe u 

vurt 01 .New lork. His third dau-^hter 
.annah married two Harvard grStes.' 
^a^'v^e d nl^f ^'f\^ second 'Ret: 
-'p^d^MToq^ ^.^^'^^' '^"'' ^^"^ Rev.Abijah 
,.eld (1/23), who was for fifty years the 
:'ni.ster in .Attieboro', wherehecMed! was 



JLOWELI 



Hig-inson Tvug (1817), the elder of the two 

Rev. Nathaniel Laurence (1787) ™ the 
hrs minister of the town after its^-ncorpora! 
t.on, and remained here until his Shin 

ouisneu as a phjsician, chemist, and author 

njt e.Maie oi -Kev. Mr. Laurence vylii*r'}i i.n 

f^M'nf p'^'-- ,"" T''"'^^ »h^ voSe tcl^'u..b- 
ter of President Wilhird (1765) and SainnPl 
Dana Jvittredge (1876) is their gi'dson 

Mjcteeut a ite\ . Mr. Laurence as pastor of 

Rebecca Bancroft, a daughter of Col. Tim 
othy Bancroft, a life-long" citizen, marriSl 
Hollis n"h'V?"' (1^S6". the niinSr o 
HO lis, N. H. Their two onlv children, twins 

B Hn'mSif^ "S^^ college ;-Rev"yoeph 
, • ■"'' ,(1^^1)' »»(! John B. Hill (1821) who 
has published in pamphlet form hiV-Re ni^ 

cl-is?dav'm!^n^;;''-^^ ^*" ^#')' ^^'l^o ^vas the 
cla^s day oiator, is a .sou of the Rev. Joseph 

FrancisBrinley (1818), although born in 
Boston, and now living in Newport R I 

tooK a conspicuous interest in town afl'iir* 
and dia good service in matters relatino^ to 
schools and education. ici.uin^ to 

Charles BMtterfield (1820) ^yas born and 
lived here continuously until his death He 

'•Med^F^r^ ^ ' 'T'H''' ^^ *'•« once famous 
v.riP v'^''T^-'^' '^'^'^t'^^edin the "Har- 

relate '' "' '''*" ^'^''"^ ^^^^» ^^^''^'^^ ^^^^ 

Dr. Augustus Peirce (1820) was the only 
practising physician here for^nany years n^ 
mediately preceding the time of' hi' dea 
which occurred here in 1849. He was tl p 
author of the "Rebelliad." which wis £ 
hvered before the Engine club iu 1819. It i. 
a remarkable production iu some respect^'" 
for a bov, then only about sixteen vers of 
age, and the youngest member of his c a.? 
il.e CO lege library has long had a valuable 
printed copy of it, and ha.^rece Hh- re cei'v^lcl 
the original manuscript, carefuL'y wri en 
out by the autlior from notes which 'oe i ed 
at the time of ts delivery. His son D, 
Yarren Peirce m. 1869), is a successful .h^ 
sK'ian m West Bovlston. Mas^. 
Dr. Calvin Thomas (M. D. 1824), the i 




